Mental health and desertion in a university population with tow academic performance

Dropout is a phenomenon that occurs frequently in higher education institutions (HEI), it can be associated with multiple factors, including physical and mental health. The present study evaluated the prevalence of mental health problems in 69 students with low academic performance, at the beginning of the semester, through a structured interview applied by a psychiatrist and three self-applied scales: state -trait anxiety, Barratt impulsivity and the learning styles questionnaire. They were followed until the end of the semester to evaluate the event of interest, to be excluded from the university. The results showed prevalences of mental disorders higher than those reported in the general community. It was also found that, for each additional point obtained in the total score of the state tests, as well as in the components of mathematics or social science, the likelihood of dropout decreased. In conclusion, we propose two strategies to favor the retention of university students: 1) HEIs should invest in well-being programs that allow the early identification of mental problems, due to their negative impact on academic performance, and 2) overcoming the academic deficiencies that students have at their admission.