Authors

Juan Yovani Telumbre-Terrero1, Diana Laura Molina-Avilez2, Raquel Estrella-Barrón3, Juan Pablo Sánchez-Domínguez4, Denise Lizette de la Cruz-Jiménez5

Position

1Doctor en Salud Mental. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Ciudad del Carmen. Campeche (México)2Maestría en Ciencias de Enfermería. Universidad de Guanajuato (México)3Maestría en Ciencias. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Ciudad del Carmen. Campeche (México)4Doctor en Psicología. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Ciudad del Carmen. Campeche (México)5Maestra en Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Ciudad del Carmen. Campeche (México)

Contact address

Juan Yovani Telumbre Terrero. Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Facultad Ciencias de la Salud. Campus III. Av. Central, s/n - esq. Fracc. Mundo Maya. 2

Contact email: jtelumbre@pampano.unacar.mx

Abstract

Objective: to analyse the self-perception of mental health and use of legal drugs in young students from a public university in Mexico. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 308 young university students from Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche (Mexico). An ad hoc form about personal details and history of use of legal drugs was used for data collection, as well as the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Bivariate analysis was conducted, and hypothesis tests (Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U).Results: the overall mean score in the GHQ was 14.02; 81.8% of them had consumed alcohol and 49% had smoked at some point in their lives, while 53.9% presented lack of psychopathology. Presence was higher in women than in men (10.9% vs. 4.5%; p= 0.038). The average values of GHQ-12 were higher among those who had consumed alcohol at some point in their lives (14.3; p= 0.037) and during the past year (14.09; p= 0.04), and in those who had smoked at some point in their lives (15.22; p= 0.048) or during the past year (14.88; p= 0.043).Conclusion: there are significant differences in the self-perception of mental health and use of legal drugs, with higher scores reported among young persons who have consumed alcohol and smoked at some point in their lives and during the past year. Results help to understand the extent of the phenomenon in this population group, and that this can be a determining factor for the biologic, psychological and social health status; therefore, an integral approach is required.

Keywords:

Alcohol drinking; Tobacco use; Mental Health; young adult

Versión en Español

Título:

Autopercepción de la salud mental y consumo de drogas lícitas en jóvenes universitarios