Locus of Control and Its Association with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Mexican University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study explores how a person's belief in controlling their life relates to mental health issues like depression and anxiety among Mexican university students.

Contribution

The study provides novel evidence on the relationship between locus of control and mental health in a Latin-American university student population.

Findings

Higher external locus of control was linked to more severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Women showed higher symptom severity across all mental health dimensions.

Strengthening internal locus of control may improve mental health and academic outcomes.

Abstract

Locus of control is a psychological construct that influences how individuals perceive their ability to manage life events. Although its relationship with mental health has been widely studied, limited evidence exists among Latin-American university student populations. To assess the association between locus of control and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Nuevo León, Mexico. A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted using data from the Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Program at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. A total of 815 students completed a digital survey assessing sociodemographic variables, DASS-21, and Burger’s Locus of Control Scale. Participants had a mean age of 19.8 ± 3.4, 57.1% were women. The prevalence of symptoms was 64.4% for depression, 55.8% for stress, and 74.1% for anxiety. Women exhibited higher severity across all dimensions (p < 0.001). Locus of control scores decreased significantly as the severity of depression, stress, and anxiety increased, particularly in moderate to extremely severe categories. An external locus of control was consistently associated with higher frequency of severe psychological symptoms. An external locus of control was strongly associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Strengthening internal locus of control may enhance resilience, reduce psychological distress, and improve academic performance.

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