Gender-Based Violence and Its Relationship to the Mental Health of Female University Students

Kenia Laz-Figueroa¹Brizeida Raquel Hernández-Sánchez²Jose Carlos Sánchez-García²Fabricio Guevara-Viejó^3*

• ¹Universidad Técnica de Babahoyo, Babahoyo, Los Rios, Ecuador
• ²University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
• ³State University of Milagro, Milagro, Ecuador

This study explores the correlation between gender-based violence (GBV) and the mental health of female university students at Universidad Estatal de Milagro (UNEMI). Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 380 psychology students via digital surveys. The Dating Abuse Questionnaire (CMN) evaluated five forms of GBV—psychological, physical, economic, sexual, and sociocultural—while the SCL-90-R inventory assessed mental health symptoms. Results indicate significant GBV prevalence, with psychological abuse being most common. Analysis revealed a strong correlation between exposure to GBV and increased mental health symptoms, particularly anxiety, depression, and paranoid ideation. ANOVA tests confirmed that GBV victims exhibit significantly higher symptomatology compared to non-victims. Sociocultural influence, while significant, showed weaker mental health associations compared to direct abuse forms. These findings underscore GBV's profound mental health impact, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and fostering a culture of respect in academic settings. This research highlights GBV's role as a chronic stressor with critical implications for policy development and the mental well-being of female students.