Depresión en estudiantes de séptimo y noveno ciclo de la Carrera de Género y Desarrollo de la Facultad de Jurisprudencia de la Universidad de Cuenca, en el periodo 2025-2026

Abstract

.Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a persistently low mood and ongoing feelings of sadness, which can intensify in the university context due to academic demands, increased responsibilities, and transitional processes typical of this stage, thereby affecting students’ emotional well-being. The aim of this study was to describe the levels of depression among seventh- and ninth-semester students in the Gender and Development program at the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the University of Cuenca, using a quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, and descriptive design. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), validated in Colombia, were administered to classify symptoms into minimal, mild, moderate, and severe levels. The results showed that most students presented minimal or no depressive symptoms, while a smaller percentage exhibited mild, moderate, or severe levels. Differences were also observed according to sex, age, academic semester, and place of origin. These findings provide updated information on the mental health of this group and support the development of future research and preventive strategies within the university setting.