Determinants of mental health and its relationship with academic indicators in Technical/Professional Higher Education during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Mental health problems gained greater significance during the pandemic, with adolescents and young people being one of the most affected groups.

This study examines the factors that influence anxiety and depression symptoms in first year students at a technical and vocational institution, and how these symptoms affected their academic indicators during the pandemic. The study in cluded 18,753 students from different disciplinary areas. Using an ordered probit model, factors associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms were identified. These factors included being female, younger age, Chilean nationality, having some form of disability, not responsible for minors,
having an inadequate space to study, or, experiencing a decrease in income or having a family member sick due to pandemic. In a secondary analysis, it was found that higher symptomatology had a greater detrimental effect on academic performance. These findings can be useful for informing mental health support strategies.