Stress and Well-Being in Students: A Gender Analysis
Author Information
Author(s): María-José del Pino, M. Pilar Matud
Primary Institution: Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain; Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
Hypothesis
Are there gender differences in stress, coping styles, mental symptoms, and well-being among university and non-university students?
Conclusion
University students experience more chronic stress but report better coping styles and greater well-being compared to non-university students.
Supporting Evidence
- University students reported higher chronic stress but also greater satisfaction with their studies.
- Emotional coping styles were linked to more mental symptoms for both genders.
- Non-university students showed more dissatisfaction with their studies compared to university students.
Takeaway
Students feel stressed from school and life, and how they handle that stress can affect their happiness. University students tend to cope better than those in other types of education.
Methodology
The study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 1,426 students aged 16-26, analyzing stress, coping styles, mental symptoms, and well-being through various questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Self-reported measures may introduce biases such as recall issues and social desirability.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, uses a convenience sample, relies on self-reported data, and is limited to students in Spain.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 872 girls and 554 boys, aged 16 to 26, with 38.8% in university education and 61.2% in non-university education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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