Mental Health and Social Skills among First-Year Psychology Students in Public and Private Universities

Abstract

University students’ mental health is influenced by multiple factors, including institutional characteristics and student profiles. This study aimed to characterize and compare psychology students from two types of institutions (46 from a private university and 37 from a public university) in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, mental health (depression and anxiety), and social skills repertoire. Students from the private institution presented higher levels of anxiety and interpersonal difficulties, whereas no significant differences in depression were observed between groups. Mental health problems were associated with being female, a more limited social skills repertoire, and greater interpersonal difficulties. These findings contribute to the development of public policies in both educational and social domains, aiming to promote mental health and enhance students’ career adaptability in an increasingly dynamic and uncertain context.