Mental health, social support, and health behaviors in higher education students

Introduction: Epidemiological studies indicate that mental disorders tend to emerge more frequently in early adulthood. In higher education, anxiety and depression are common and can negatively affect students’ quality of life and academic performance. Objective: To examine the relationship between mental health, social support, and health behaviors among higher college students. Methods: An online questionnaire was completed by 1,120 students from the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-38), the Social Support Satisfaction Scale (ESSS), and questions on health behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit substances, tranquilizers, and physical activity. Results: The sample was predominantly female and aged between 18 and 25 years. Overall, students showed satisfactory levels of mental health (MHI = 60,01) and satisfaction with social support (ESSS = 48,39). A moderate negative correlation between mental health and social support indicated that students with lower mental health reported higher satisfaction with perceived social support. Tobacco and alcohol consumption were associated with poorer mental health, while the absence of physical activity was related to better mental health levels. Conclusion: Students’ mental health in higher education is influenced by social support and health behaviours, highlighting the need for integrated approaches to foster them, creating academic environments that enhance students’ well-being and mental health.