Gender-based violence and its relationship to the mental health of female university students

Introduction Gender-based violence (GBV) poses a significant threat to women’s mental health, especially in university settings where structural dynamics of subordination may persist. In Ecuador, more than 64% of women over the age of 15 have experienced some form of violence, underscoring the need for contextual studies. Methods This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional design with a random sample of 380 female students from the Psychology program at the State University of Milagro (UNEMI). Two instruments were used: the Dating Abuse Questionnaire (DAQ) to assess five types of violence (psychological, physical, economic, sexual, and sociocultural) and the SCL-90-R inventory to measure mental health symptoms. Exploratory factor analyses and ANOVA tests were performed. Results The results showed a high prevalence of psychological violence, with significant correlations between it and symptoms of paranoid ideation, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity. The ANOVA analysis showed that students exposed to violence (psychological, physical, economic, sexual) had significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms than those who did not report experiences of violence. Sociocultural influence showed a weaker association with symptoms. Discussion The findings confirm that GBV acts as a chronic stressor that negatively impacts the mental health of female university students. The need to implement institutional interventions and public policies that promote safe, inclusive, and violence-free academic environments is highlighted.