Effects of Sociocultural and Academic Factors on the Mental Health of College Students: A Systematic Review

• Autores: Elainy Camilo Loiola, Susana Coimbra, António A. Pires
• Localización: Revista interamericana de psicología = Interamerican journal of psychology, ISSN 0034-9690, Vol. 59, Nº. 1, 2025, pág. 1971
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Efeitos dos fatores socioculturais e acadêmicos na saúde mental de estudantes universitários: Uma revisão sistemática
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • English

    Mental disorders among college students, especially in the medical field, are a rising public health concern and can impede academic progress. Despite their prevalence, the impact of sociocultural and academic factors on students' mental health across diverse disciplines and academic levels remains under-explored. Our systematic review sought to understand how factors, including gender identity, ethnicity, racial background, sexual orientation, housing status, economic conditions, course specifics, academic performance, and field of study, influence depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation. We screened five databases, prioritizing longitudinal, cross-sectional, and case-control studies, excluding intervention-based or qualitative research, reviews, theses, and editorials, or those without validated tools. From the studies, 32, representing 642,893 students, were pertinent. A noteworthy finding from our review was the pronounced prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among these students. Risks were particularly heightened for females and individuals from marginalized sexual, racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Given the growing importance and diversity of student populations, our review emphasizes the urgent need for further research and mental health initiatives that cater to students' vast array of sociocultural and economic backgrounds.

  • português

    Os transtornos mentais entre estudantes universitários, especialmente na área médica, são uma preocupação crescente de saúde pública e podem impedir o progresso acadêmico. Apesar da sua prevalência, o impacto dos fatores socioculturais e acadêmicos na saúde mental de estudantes em diversas disciplinas e níveis acadêmicos permanece pouco explorado. Esta revisão sistemática procurou compreender como fatores, incluindo identidade de gênero, etnia, origem racial, orientação sexual, situação de moradia, condições econômicas, especificidades do curso, desempenho acadêmico e área de estudo, influenciam a depressão, a ansiedade ou a ideação suicida. Foram examinadas cinco bases de dados, priorizando estudos longitudinais, transversais e de caso-controle, excluindo pesquisas, revisões, teses e editoriais baseadas em intervenções ou qualitativas, ou aquelas sem ferramentas validadas. Dos estudos, 32, representando 642.893 estudantes, foram examinados. Um achado digno de nota da nossa revisão foi a pronunciada prevalência de depressão, ansiedade e ideação suicida entre esses estudantes. Os riscos foram particularmente aumentados para as mulheres e indivíduos pertencentes a minorias sexuais, raciais, étnicas e econômicas. Dada a crescente importância e diversidade das populações estudantis, a nossa análise enfatiza a necessidade de mais investigação e iniciativas de saúde mental que atendam à vasta gama de origens socioculturais e econômicas de discentes de ensino superior.

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