Spirituality and mental health among university students in Peru and Mexico: a thematic analysis

Abstract

With the aim of understanding the subjective perceptions of university students in Peru and Mexico regarding the relationship between spirituality and mental health, we adopted a qualitative, exploratory and interpretative approach. A total of 159 full-time undergraduate university students participated. We used a non-probabilistic snowball sampling. Information was collected through an online qualitative survey with open-ended questions. Analysis was carried out using thematic analysis, following the stages of initial coding, category construction, and theme synthesis. The analysis process was based on criteria of credibility and reflexivity. The findings show that spirituality has interpersonal, transcendent, relational, and ethical dimensions, while mental health is understood as a condition of health and internal balance, possessing also a social dimension. It is concluded that spirituality is a relevant resource for psychological well-being and the construction of meaning among university students, with implications for the design of comprehensive support programs in universities. We suggest future lines of research which aim at exploring differences among cultural contexts and which integrate mixed methodologies.