This study explores the mental well-being of university students in Italy through 330 qualitative interviews across diverse disciplines. Findings reveal that 43% of students associate their academic experience with negative emotions, driven by academic pressure, social comparison, and financial concerns. The study highlights the need for universities to reform teaching methods and provide enhanced psychological support to improve student well-being. The study was conducted using Glaut, an AI-moderated interview software.
University life represents a crucial phase of growth and change for many young people. However, behind academic success often lie significant challenges that can profoundly impact students' mental well-being. In fact, despite the common perception that this phase of life is carefree and devoid of real concerns, students frequently face stress, anxiety, and constant pressure.
However, at Glaut we envision a world where knowledge is not based on stereotypes.
We envision a world where understanding means connecting with others and listening to their stories, in their own voices.
To this end, we decided to launch a survey to explore the lives of university students in Italy, asking them to share their experiences, emotions, and states of mind related to their academic careers.
But in their own words, not through an endless series of checkboxes.
Leveraging the capabilities of our AI agent, we conducted over 330 interviews in less than two weeks with students from many of the main university cities, including Palermo, Napoli, Milano, Roma, Bologna, Bergamo, Ancona, Verona, Padova, Brescia, Camerino, and Urbino.
Our respondents represented a diverse range of disciplines, and they composed a balanced sample of STEM, humanities, arts, and social sciences students.
The interviews accumulated a total of around 27 hours of valuable qualitative data.
We aimed to promote greater awareness of students’ mental health and to spark a chain of positive changes in the university system, to create a healthy and sustainable environment where students can reach their full potential.
But let’s not waste any more time and get straight to the heart of the matter: the data.
As emerges from the responses, 43% of students associate a negative emotion with their university experience. Only 37% of students, on the other hand, link their university experience to positive emotions.
For the remaining 20%, the relationship with the university is highly nuanced. In these cases, more complex states of mind emerge, where negative emotions coexist with strong positive ones.
"I feel a sense of gratitude because I've had the chance to study amazing things, find very knowledgeable professors, and participate in many cultural initiatives. But I also feel some anxiety, shame, and guilt because these studies are not highly recognized socially and make it hard to find a job.”
Regardless of the type of emotion associated with the university, 98% of students affirm that their academic journey has an impact on their psychological well-being.
Among the psychological effects mentioned in the responses, stress and a sense of pressure rank first (53%), but many also report feeling anxious (39%) or inadequate (12%) due to their academic career. Additionally, a large portion of students report that university significantly influences their self-esteem (33%) and/or their mood (23%).
"It makes me feel incapable compared to others in achieving the same goals within timeframes that seem obvious to everyone else."
The main dynamic emerging from their accounts is a strong correlation between academic performance and mental state, where failing to achieve the desired results corresponds to a negative mental state, and vice versa.
"Stress prevents me from fully enjoying everything outside, from experiences to personal relationships. My morale and self-esteem vary based on my results and not on what I truly believe I'm worth."
But why do these young people feel this way?
To delve into the reasons behind these states of mind, students were asked to identify the most relevant factors and causes according to them.
The results highlighted that 60% of respondents attribute their emotional and psychological state to the challenges posed by academic performance. Some strive to achieve and maintain high grades, while others fear failure. Some struggle to balance personal and academic life despite excessive study loads and tight deadlines, while others fear falling behind schedule.
"What causes me the most stress and anxiety is that many exams are scheduled just days apart, plus the poor communication with certain professors who seem to leave everything to chance in terms of organization."
Another significant factor influencing mental state is interpersonal relationships. For 32% of students, comparing their results with peers and unfair treatment by some professors are problematic. Many reported that the university environment is highly competitive and lacking in empathy.
This piece of data is also linked to the impact that 20% of respondents attribute to social and family pressures on their mental health; society is perceived as a system that rewards and values only what it considers academic excellence, marginalizing others.
"What impacts me the most is the fear of falling behind others and the pressure from people asking what I want to do in the future."
Finally, responses underlined the negative psychological impact of financial worries (11%) and the sense of uncertainty with which many students unfortunately view their future (26%).
"Being away from home, the most stressful element are the cost of living and the poor job prospects for what I’m studying."
Given these data, it is not surprising that 39% of the students interviewed have considered abandoning their university careers. The most frequent causes include academic difficulties such as an excessive backlog of exams (45%), mental and physical health problems exacerbated by stress (28%), strong feelings of inadequacy and demotivation (15%), relational difficulties with professors and peers (11%), and financial problems (11%).
However, despite these difficulties, Italian students have clear ideas on the solutions their universities should implement to improve the mental conditions for everyone.
There is no lack of proposals, and among the most notable are:
1. The suggestion to balance study and private life through targeted and global interventions, such as the introduction of more partial exams, increased frequency of exam sessions, or the reform of teaching and evaluation methods (28%).
“It would be great balancing the study load with the actual credits assigned, improving the scheduling of exam dates, proposing midterms or intermediate exams, creating an environment that makes students feel more at ease rather than so pressured, especially regarding some professors and their behaviors."
2. The call to develop and enhance open infrastructures for psychological support (25%).
"It would be a huge improvement making accessible psychological support at every location open to students, and organizing events that can raise awareness about mental health and how to handle study sessions and university life."
3. The invitation to increase practical opportunities and collaborations with the working world (10%).
"It would be useful to extend the collaborations with the job market and to facilitate a smoother and more rewarding entry into the workforce after studying.”
4. The push to create an inclusive and respectful university environment that values everyone's uniqueness, promoting individual and collective well-being and growth (16%).
"We need lower tuition fees, we need to abolish the distinction between on-time and late students, to encourage interdisciplinary exchanges and intersectional discussion tables, to ensure more horizontal and accessible psychological support services."
The results of our survey clearly illustrate that, while the university can be a place of growth and socialization, it also represents a significant source of stress and anxiety for many students. Academic pressures, social expectations, and financial difficulties contribute to an emotional burden that often becomes almost unbearable.
It is crucial for university institutions to recognize these challenges and implement concrete measures to improve student well-being. The proposals from students, such as the reform of teaching methods, better distribution of the study load, and enhancement of psychological support services, are essential steps in this direction.
Universities should act now to create an academic environment that values not only excellence but also their students' mental health and well-being. Only by doing so can they promote a positive and lasting change aimed at building a healthier and happier community.
Glaut is a market research software that leverages artificial intelligence to conduct large-scale qualitative research projects through AI-moderated interviews. For more information: info@glaut.com
