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Control and management of health risks and emergencies

Vol. 28 No. 2 (2026)

Mental health and life satisfaction among Latin America university students in 2024 and 2025

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22267/rus.262802.9735
Submitted
September 15, 2025
Published
2026-05-01

Abstract

Introduction: The mental health of university students can impact their life satisfaction.

Objective: To determine the relationship between mental health and life satisfaction in university students.

Materials an methods: Observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study. Students of both sexes attending Latin American universities in 2024 and 2025 were included. Demographic variables, quality of life using the GHQ-12 questionnaire, and life satisfaction using the SWLS scale were measured using an online survey. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied to analyze the relationship between mental health and life satisfaction.

Results: A total of 398 university students were included, with a mean age of 23 ± 7 years, with a predominance of women (68.59%). The majority were medical students (85.43%) and came from 5 countries, the majority being from Paraguay (38.94%) and Peru (25.63%). It was found that 71.11% of respondents perceived themselves as having good mental health, and 65.58% were dissatisfied with their lives. The analysis of these variables found that students with psychological discomfort perceived themselves as dissatisfied with their lives (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A significant relationship was found between psychological discomfort and students' life dissatisfaction. Universities should support programs and strategies to identify the causes of psychological discomfort and improve student well-being.

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