Mental health, self-esteem and life satisfaction among university students in southern Chile

Abstract

University students experience an evolutionary stage that positions them as a population prone to mental health disorders, which affects their general quality of life. This paper analyzes the relationship between mental health, self-esteem and life satisfaction among students at a university in southern Chile. The 452 participants, males and females aged between 18 and 24 studying different university degrees, answered 4 different questionnaires: Sociodemographic Questionnaire; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; Life Satisfaction Scale; and Self-esteem Scale. The results showed that students who scored higher regarding mental health problems had lower life satisfaction and lower self-esteem scores. It was also identified that female students have a higher prevalence of mental health problems compared to male students.