UNIVERSITY STUDENT ADAPTATION AND MENTAL HEALTH: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF LITERATURE

ABSTRACT Students’ mental health and their adaptation to the university have been investigated in several studies. The present study aimed to carry out a systematic review of the literature about the variables related to the students’ adaptation to higher education that influence their mental health. A bibliographic search was carried out in six national and international databases, with 23 articles selected for analysis from six categories: difficulties and facilitators of adaptation, consequences of non-adaptation, symptoms, required repertoire and teaching strategies. The results indicate that the main obstacles are the level of demand and interpersonal relationships. As facilitators, support network, the availability of information, and academic integration. Anxiety, stress and depression were the main symptoms; repertoires of autonomy and commitment were most required for a healthy adaptation to university. There is a lack of research that characterizes the behaviors that make up these repertoires, which would lead to better interventions with this population.