Connections between academic adaptation and symptoms linked to depression, anxiety and stress in university students

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47214

Keywords:

adaptation, psychopathology, well-being, psychological assessment

Abstract

The transition and permanence in Higher Education demand numerous processes inherent to academic adaptation, potentially triggering psychopathological symptoms linked to difficulties in adapting to this context. This research aimed to investigate the relationships between academic adaptation and symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress among university students. The sample comprised 310 students from predominantly private institutions in Brazil’s Central-West, who completed self-report instruments remotely. Results revealed relationships between dimensions of academic adaptation and psychopathological symptoms. Furthermore, this study observed interactions between these constructs and variables such as self-reported mental disorders diagnosis and psychological/psychiatric treatment. Network analysis findings can inform interventions to promote academic adaptation and reduce psychopathological symptoms incidence in college programs.

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Author Biographies

Adriana Satico Ferraz, University Center of Brasília (CEUB), Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. Belas Artes University Center of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from São Francisco University. Currently, she is a full professor in the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Program in Psychology at the University Center of Brasília and coordinator of the Psychology course at the Belas Artes University Center of São Paulo.

Thatiana Helena de Lima, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from São Francisco University. Currently an adjunct professor at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA).

Neide de Brito Cunha, Paula Souza State Center for Technological Education (CEETEPS), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Educator, PhD in Psychology from São Francisco University. Currently a professor at the Paula Souza State Center for Technological Education.

Acácia Aparecida Angeli dos Santos, University of Brasília (UNB), Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in School and Human Development Psychology from the University of São Paulo. Retired professor in the Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Program in Psychology at São Francisco University.

Gabriela Vitorio Carvalho Cavalcanti Vitorio, University Center of Brasília (CEUB), Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. Belas Artes University Center of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Undergraduate student in Psychology at the University Center of Brasília.

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Published

2025-12-19

How to Cite

Ferraz, A. S., de Lima, T. H., de Brito Cunha, N., Aparecida Angeli dos Santos, A., & Vitorio Carvalho Cavalcanti Vitorio, G. (2025). Connections between academic adaptation and symptoms linked to depression, anxiety and stress in university students. Psico, 56(1), e47214. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47214

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 1 (2025): Single Volume - Continuous flow

Section

Psychological Assessment

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Copyright (c) 2025 Adriana Satico Ferraz, Thatiana Helena de Lima, Neide de Brito Cunha, Acácia Aparecida Angeli dos Santos, Gabriela Vitorio Carvalho Cavalcanti Vitorio

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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