Mental Health Problems and Related Factors in Ecuadorian College Students

Claudia Torres, Patricia Otero, Byron Bustamante, Vanessa Blanco, Olga Díaz and Fernando L. Vázquez
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Claudia Torres: Deparment of Psychology, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 11-01-608, Ecuador
Patricia Otero: Deparment of Psychology, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
Byron Bustamante: Deparment of Psychology, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 11-01-608, Ecuador
Vanessa Blanco: Deparment of Evolutive and Educational Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Olga Díaz: Deparment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Fernando L. Vázquez: Deparment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Although the mental health problems of college students have been the subject of increasing research, there are no studies about its prevalence in Ecuadorian college students. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health problems and their associated factors in Ecuadorian freshmen university students. A sample of 1092 students (53.7% women; mean age = 18.3 years) were recruited from the Technical Particular University of Loja (Ecuador). Socio-demographic, academic, and clinical characteristics were gathered, as well as information on the participants’ mental health through a number of mental health screens. Prevalence of positive screens was 6.2% for prevalence of major depressive episodes, 0.02% for generalized anxiety disorders, 2.2% for panic disorders, 32.0% for eating disorders, 13.1% for suicidal risk. Mental health problems were significantly associated with sex, area of study, self-esteem, social support, personality and histories of mental health problems. The findings offer a starting point for identifying useful factors to target prevention and intervention strategies aimed at university students.

Keywords: mental health; prevalence; correlates; college students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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