(ANSA) - ROME, 07 OCT - Little satisfied with their own quality of life, gripped by performance anxiety and in some cases with depressive symptoms, but fortunately with a solid network of social relationships to support: this is a "psychological identikit" of over 7 thousand students of the University of Milan who answered a questionnaire on psychological well-being, edited by Ilaria Cutica, professor of general psychology and by Davide Mazzoni, researcher in social psychology of the university.
The presentation took place during the conference "Going out of the discomfort - the University and local institutions in support of the health and psychological well-being of the student population", which was attended by Lamberto Bertolé, Councilor for Welfare and Health of the Municipality of Milan, the Rector Elio Franzini, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti, Vice Rector delegated to Relations with Health Institutions and the Vice Rector Delegated to Programming and Student Services MarinaBrambilla.
Michela Vuga moderated the Round Table which was attended by Gustavo Pietropolli Charmet, Ilaria Cutica, Davide Mazzoni and the student representatives.
The questionnaire, launched at the beginning of 2022, was answered by 7,096 students with an average age of 24, 70% female and 29% male.
The team of researchers investigated the level of mental well-being of the students, analyzing their life satisfaction, understood as the positive evaluation that a person gives of the life lived up to that moment, in relation to his individual criteria (eg, values, expectations, goals, etc. ..).
The results on this parameter indicate a medium-low level: almost 32% of the sample declared themselves dissatisfied or extremely dissatisfied, 23% slightly dissatisfied, 5% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 22% slightly satisfied, and about 19% satisfied or extremely satisfied.
"These data - commented Professor Cutica -" indicate a widespread malaise, which over time can predispose to a decrease in volition and motivation, a lowering of self-esteem, an increase in stress, and also anxious or depressive problems ".
The level of mood was also a data worthy of attention: the test used allowed to identify depressive symptoms in 12% of the students who answered the questionnaire.
Performance anxiety was found to be moderately high or high in 48% of students: a particularly significant finding because performance anxiety is closely correlated with academic well-being.
In fact, a high performance anxiety causes a worse performance on exams, lack of concentration, a sense of panic, irritability, restlessness.
The specific well-being in the academic field, on the other hand, presents an overall rosier picture: 38% say they are very satisfied with the chosen degree course (score 4 or 5, raise it from 1 to 4), and most of the respondents did not think about the possibility of abandoning the course of study (73%) or university (63%).
57% of the students comply with the exams.
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