Psychological characterization and academic performance in college students of fast employment career

Academic performance may reveal contrasts related to students' coping with widely diverse conditions and to their psychological wellbeing. In Mexico, the main reasons students drop out from universities are of a financial kind, including the need for early insertion in the job market and low grades. This study aimed to identify the main factors affecting students' mental health and their relevance regarding academic performance by students of a large business administration school in Mexico's National University. A total of 249 students responded to instruments on psychological wellbeing and academic performance as reflected by grades. Results revealed high levels of intolerance and rigidity on scales designed to evaluate behaviors reflecting inability to adapt to, or interact with persons different to the respondents. Regarding academic performance, results revealed relatively important deficiencies in study behaviors and strategies aimed at learning effectively. The most important deficient skills involved searching for, retrieving and using information leading to relevant knowledge. Mental health variables were also associated with academic performance, especially negative interaction in couples and debilitating family background. These factors were, in turn, associated with aggressiveness, poor emotional self-regulation and low assertiveness.