Feelings of hopelessness in a Spanish university population - Descriptive analysis and its relationship to adapting to university, depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation

Background The feeling of hopelessness is one of the main risk factors in suicidal behaviour, a clinical symptom of depression and a factor of great etiological relevance in hopelessness depression. With the aim of contributing data relative to the levels of hopelessness in the general population, this study has been made with three objectives in mind: to determine the levels of hopelessness in a university population, to analyse the relationship of hopelessness with the process of adapting to university and, finally, to analyse the relationships between hopelessness, depression, psychopathology and suicidal ideation. Method A total of 1277 first- and second-year students, from different faculties and degree courses, participated voluntarily in this investigation. Results The results obtained indicate that 13.9% of the students present moderate or severe levels of hopelessness. The students with greater levels of hopelessness are dissatisfied with different aspects of university life, spend less time on extracurricular educational activities and are less likely to go to examinations. Also, the relationship between hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation is once again clearly seen. Conclusion The results suggest the need to develop some type of programme or service for the university community which could influence the mood of students and modify their expectations with the aim of preventing suicidal behaviour and improving their adaptation to university life and, consequently, their academic performance.