Mental health and well-being in Mexican and Spanish doctoral students: A cross-cultural study
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Abstract
Introduction: Decreased well-being and high distress among doctoral students are growing concerns in higher education and research. Objective: To analyze and contrast sociodemographic characteristics, well-being indicators, and emotional distress in Mexican and Spanish doctoral students. Method: Observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study. Information was collected through an online questionnaire that included indicators of well-being and emotional distress. Results: Three hundred fifty-one doctoral students, 192 Mexican and 159 Spanish, participated. Doctoral students in Spain showed lower levels of emotional well-being and higher indicators of emotional distress compared to their Mexican peers. Being an international student (χ2 = 38.09; p < 0.01) and age (χ² = 0.16; p < 0.01) emerged as risk factors for mental health problems. Conclusions: Differences in mental health by country suggest that academic and cultural factors may influence the well-being of PhD students. These findings highlight the need to strengthen institutional strategies for psychological support and training in stress management skills in the doctoral community.
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