Prevalence and Sociodemographic and Academic Factors Associated with Mental Health Problems in Spanish University Students

Abstract

Se ha evidenciado un incremento de problemas mentales en es-tudiantes universitarios a nivel mundial. Hemos investigado la prevalencia de problemas mentales comunes en estudiantes de una universidad pública española y su asociación con factores sociodemográficos y académicos. Se utilizó un diseño de estudio transversal. 2862 estudiantes completaron en línea el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente (PHQ, PHQ-9), la Escala para el Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada (GAD-7) y preguntas sociodemográ-ficas y académicas. Se utilizaron modelos de regresión logística multivaria-dos. El 69,1% presentaron al menos uno de los problemas evaluados, sien-do el trastorno de ansiedad generalizada (48,9%) y el trastorno depresivo mayor (47,4%) los más frecuentes. El 67,6% de las personas con riesgo de sufrir un problema, tenían riesgo de sufrir múltiples problemas. Ser mujer, minoría de género, vivir con compañeros, cursar primer año de grado y es-tar al final del semestre estaba asociado a mayor riesgo de sufrir al menos un problema. Algunos factores asociados con un problema individual va-riaron según el problema. Estudiar ciencias de la salud tenía un riesgo me-nor de depresión mayor y ser varón un mayor riesgo de consumo de al-cohol. Dada la alta prevalencia de estudiantes con riesgo, medidas preven-tivas dirigidas especialmente a los grupos más vulnerables son necesarias.

There has been an increase in mental problems among universi-ty students worldwide. We investigated the prevalence of common mental problems in students at a public Spanish university and their associated so-ciodemographic and academic factors. A cross-sectional study design was used. 2,862 students completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ, PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and sociodemo-graphic and academic questions. Multivariate logistic regression models were used. 69.1% screened positively for at least one evaluated problem, with generalized anxiety disorder (48.9%) and major depressive disorder (47.4%) being the most frequent. 67.6% of individuals screened for at least one problem were at risk for multiple problems. Being female, gender mi-nority, living with housemates, and being in the first-year of undergraduate studies was associated with an increased risk of at least one mental prob-lem. Factors associated with individual conditions varied across conditions. Studying health sciences was associated with a lower risk of major depres-sion and being male was associated with a higher risk of alcohol abuse. Given the high prevalence of students at risk, preventative measures aimed especially at the most vulnerable groups are necessary.