Abstract:

Around 20% of college students suffer an emotional disorder (ED). A large study using Word Health Organization surveys found that ED mostly occur prior to college and that previous disorders were associated with college low attrition and were generally untreated (Auerbach et al., 2016). Despite these problems, Master on General Health Psychology (MPGS in Spanish) programs do not normally include in their curricula specific training in socio-emotional competences, which may affect alumni´s future professional performance. The main objective of this study was to explore the ability of mindful self-awareness and the difficulties in emotion regulation and neuroticism of alumni that had just started a MPGS, taking in consideration gender and previous/current psychological treatment received differences. The sample of the present study consisted of 111 participants (85.6% female), with a mean age of 23.03 years (SD =1.98, range 21-33), from four academic years (2020-24) of the MPGS at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). 37.8% of them (n=42) had received some kind of psychological treatment in the past and 12.6% (n=14) were receiving it at the beginning of the master. An online survey was completed by participants in the first class of the Psychopathology course of the MPGS. Assessment measures evaluated: demographic characteristics, mindfulness skills (FFMQ), difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS) and personality variables (neuroticism and extraversion; NEO-FFI). When exploring baseline differences according to gender, statistically significant differences were found in FFMQ_Non-reactivity (t = .22, p = .029), with higher scores in women. Taking in account the experience with psychological treatment, results showed statistically significant differences, with higher scores in those who had not received psychological treatment in the past in the FFMQ_No judgement (t = -2.18, p = .032), and also differences in DERS_Lack of emotional awareness (t = -2.20, p = .030), DERS_Non-acceptance (t = -2.18, p = .031), being lower in those who had received treatment in the past. On the other hand, we found statistically significant differences regarding psychological treatment at the time of assessment in the variable FFMQ_No judgement (t = -4.31, p < .001) being higher in those who were not receiving it, and differences in DERS_Non-acceptance (t = 3. 64, p < .001), DERS_Impulse Dyscontrol (t = 2.153 p = .013), DERS Total score (t = 2.80, p = .006), and neuroticism (t = 2.56, p = .012), being higher in those participants who were receiving psychological treatment at the time of assessment. Findings showed that women had more difficulties in the ability to actively detach from negative thoughts and emotions and choosing not to react to them. Alumni who received treatment in the past reported low difficulties in ER, however, those who were receiving it at the beginning of the course indicated high difficulties in ER and neuroticism. Results suggest that detection and effective treatment of the ER difficulties early in the student’s career might be relevant to improve their mental health and therefore facilitate future successful professional performance. Nonetheless, these findings need to be taken cautiously since most participants were women and few of the participants were receiving treatment at baseline. Future studies with larger samples are needed.

Acknowledgement:
This project was funded by UNIZAR (Consolidated PIIDUZ_2_ 4929).

Keywords:

Emotion Regulation, Mindfulness, Master degree students, Psychological treatment.