{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T16:06:59Z","timestamp":1791389219808,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":67,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]],"date-time":"2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758672000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Sociol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Gender-based violence (GBV) poses a significant threat to women\u2019s mental health, especially in university settings where structural dynamics of subordination may persist. In Ecuador, more than 64% of women over the age of 15 have experienced some form of violence, underscoring the need for contextual studies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional design with a random sample of 380 female students from the Psychology program at the State University of Milagro (UNEMI). Two instruments were used: the Dating Abuse Questionnaire (DAQ) to assess five types of violence (psychological, physical, economic, sexual, and sociocultural) and the SCL-90-R inventory to measure mental health symptoms. Exploratory factor analyses and ANOVA tests were performed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The results showed a high prevalence of psychological violence, with significant correlations between it and symptoms of paranoid ideation, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal sensitivity. The ANOVA analysis showed that students exposed to violence (psychological, physical, economic, sexual) had significantly higher levels of psychological symptoms than those who did not report experiences of violence. Sociocultural influence showed a weaker association with symptoms.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The findings confirm that GBV acts as a chronic stressor that negatively impacts the mental health of female university students. The need to implement institutional interventions and public policies that promote safe, inclusive, and violence-free academic environments is highlighted.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fsoc.2025.1597261","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]],"date-time":"2025-09-24T05:43:15Z","timestamp":1758692595000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Gender-based violence and its relationship to the mental health of female university students"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Kenia","family":"Laz-Figueroa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brizeida Raquel Hern\u00e1ndez","family":"S\u00e1nchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jos\u00e9 Carlos S\u00e1nchez","family":"Garc\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fabricio","family":"Guevara-Viej\u00f3","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Valeria","family":"Molina-Molina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0051424","article-title":"The invisible suffering: sexual coercion, interpersonal violence, and mental health\u2014a cross-sectional study among university students in South-Western Uganda","volume":"7","author":"Agardh","year":"2012","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e27021","DOI":"10.15381\/rinvp.v27i2.27021","article-title":"Trastorno de estr\u00e9s postraum\u00e1tico y depresi\u00f3n en mujeres con signos de violencia dom\u00e9stica en Lima Metropolitana, Per\u00fa","volume":"27","author":"Ag\u00fcero-Piazzini","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. Investig. Psicol."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/s12905-021-01333-1","article-title":"Determination of the factors affecting sexual violence against women in Turkey: a population-based analysis. BMC women\u2019s","volume":"21","author":"Alkan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Health"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"431","DOI":"10.1177\/088626052311971","article-title":"Relationship between violence against women, social support, self-esteem, and mental health in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia","volume":"39","author":"Alquaiz","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Interpers. Violence"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/852317","article-title":"The effect of economic, physical, and psychological abuse on mental health: a population-based study of women in the Philippines","volume":"2014","author":"Antai","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Family Med."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22908","DOI":"10.15381\/rivep.v33i3.22908","article-title":"La Correlaci\u00f3n de Pearson o de Spearman en caracteres f\u00edsicos y textiles de la fibra de alpacas","volume":"33","author":"Apaza Z\u00fa\u00f1iga","year":"2022","journal-title":"Rev. Investig. Vet. Per."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.6018\/eglobal.14.1.185111","article-title":"Validez de constructo y confiabilidad del instrumento calidad de vida versi\u00f3n familiar en espa\u00f1ol","volume":"14","author":"Barrera Ortiz","year":"2015","journal-title":"Enferm. Glob."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1515\/ldr-2019-0066","article-title":"Law, gender, and development: potent hauntings","volume":"13","author":"Bedford","year":"2020","journal-title":"Law Dev. Rev."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.29166\/catedra.v6i2.4001","article-title":"Violencia en las relaciones de pareja en estudiantes universitarios","volume":"6","author":"Burbano-Larrea","year":"2023","journal-title":"C\u00e1tedra"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1016\/S0193-953X(05)70317-8","article-title":"Mental and physical health effects of intimate partner violence on women and children","volume":"20","author":"Campbell","year":"1997","journal-title":"Psychiatr. Clin. North Am."},{"key":"ref12","author":"Casullo","year":"2008"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.18233\/APM38No4pp291-2941440","article-title":"Intervalos de Confianza para el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach: Aportes a la investigaci\u00f3n pedi\u00e1trica","volume":"38","author":"Caycho-Rodr\u00edguez","year":"2017","journal-title":"Acta Pedi\u00e1tr. M\u00e9x."},{"key":"ref14","article-title":"\u00bfLas dimensiones de la SCL-90-R son una medida v\u00e1lida para el campo cl\u00ednico?","author":"Cebreros","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"926","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(19)30369-4","article-title":"The burden of mental ill health associated with childhood maltreatment in the UK, using the health improvement network database: a population-based retrospective cohort study","volume":"6","author":"Chandan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref16","first-page":"51","article-title":"Consecuencias psicol\u00f3gicas en mujeres v\u00edctimas de violencia de pareja","volume-title":"Rev. Educ. UMCH","author":"Colque Casas","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2011.05.006","article-title":"Violence against women is strongly associated with suicide attempts: evidence from the WHO multi-country study on women\u2019s health and domestic violence against women","volume":"73","author":"Devries","year":"2011","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1186\/s12939-021-01456-9","article-title":"Prevalence and sociogeographical inequalities of violence against women in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study","volume":"20","author":"Edeby","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Equity Health"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e2404557122","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.240455712","article-title":"Violence against women and girls research: leveraging gains across disciplines","volume":"122","author":"Falb","year":"2025","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anyes.2020.01.003","article-title":"An\u00e1lisis de las consecuencias cognitivas y afectivas de la violencia de g\u00e9nero en relaci\u00f3n con el tipo de maltrat0","volume":"26","author":"Garc\u00eda Navarro","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ansiedad Estr\u00e9s"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.4067\/S0718-48082008000100004","article-title":"Datos Normativos y Propiedades Psicom\u00e9tricas del SCL-90-R en Estudiantes Universitarios Chilenos","volume":"26","author":"Gempp Fuentealba","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ter. Psicol."},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S105","DOI":"10.1037\/tra0001868","article-title":"Cyber abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder among racially diverse women who have resided in domestic violence shelters: a longitudinal approach","volume":"17","author":"Gonzalez","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychol. Trauma Theory Res. Pract. Policy"},{"key":"ref23","author":"Gonz\u00e1lez Otero","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref24","author":"Guam\u00e1n Ortiz","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.59993\/simbiosis.v1i1.1","article-title":"El maltrato en el noviazgo en una muestra de estudiantes de bachillerat0","volume":"1","author":"Guzm\u00e1n","year":"2021","journal-title":"Simbiosis"},{"key":"ref26","first-page":"47","article-title":"Cuestionario maltrato en el noviazgo (CMN): Instrumento binacional (Italia\u2013M\u00e9xico)","volume":"14","author":"Guzm\u00e1n","year":"2012","journal-title":"Rev. Psicol."},{"key":"ref27","volume-title":"Multivariate data analysis","author":"Hair","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref28","volume-title":"Encuesta Nacional de Relaciones Familiares y Violencia de G\u00e9nero contra las Mujeres","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref29","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1014","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-13297-4","article-title":"Examining the impact of economic abuse on survivors of intimate partner violence: a scoping review","volume":"22","author":"Johnson","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-10904-8","article-title":"Economic abuse and its associations with symptoms of common mental disorders among women in a cross-sectional survey in informal settlements in Mumbai, India","volume":"21","author":"Kanougiya","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1017\/hyp.2024.95","article-title":"How to solve the gender inclusion problem","author":"Kirk-Giannini","year":"2025","journal-title":"Hypatia"},{"key":"ref33","author":"La","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.3390\/tourhosp6010013","article-title":"Women and symbolic violence: measurement scale of gender in tourism sustainability and the case of Ecuador","volume":"6","author":"Landeta-Bejarano","year":"2025","journal-title":"Tour. Hosp."},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"94","DOI":"10.1177\/1757975913499032","article-title":"Violencia en el noviazgo y salud mental en estudiantes universitarios mexicanos","volume":"20","author":"Lazarevich","year":"2013","journal-title":"Glob. Health Promot."},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.29375\/01237047.2807","article-title":"Validaci\u00f3n del cuestionario de 90 s\u00edntomas SCL-90-R de Derogatis en una muestra cl\u00ednica colombiana","volume":"21","author":"Londo\u00f1o","year":"2018","journal-title":"MedUNAB"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1008","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2007.10.021","article-title":"Violence against women by their intimate partner and common mental disorders","volume":"66","author":"Ludermir","year":"2008","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e040641","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-040641","article-title":"Evidence of sociocultural factors influencing intimate partner violence among young women in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review","volume":"10","author":"Maguele","year":"2020","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1080\/17522439.2021.1907774","article-title":"Violence exposure, psychotic experiences, and social disconnection in an urban community sample","volume":"14","author":"Marsh","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychosis"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1177\/10901981241311216","article-title":"Caregivers\u2019 perspectives on supporting sexual and gender-diverse youth in adolescent relationship abuse prevention","volume":"52","author":"Mickievicz","year":"2025","journal-title":"Health Educ. Behav."},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14718\/9786287554146.2022","article-title":"Violencia de pareja en el contexto de pandemia por COVID-19 implicaciones cl\u00ednicas","author":"Molina Rico","year":"2022","journal-title":"Logos Vestigium"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.33881\/2011-7191.mct.08111","article-title":"Uso de la correlaci\u00f3n de Spearman en un estudio de intervenci\u00f3n en fisioterapia","volume":"8","author":"Mondrag\u00f3n Barrera","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mov. Cient\u00edfico"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e7338","DOI":"10.55905\/cuadv16n11-152","article-title":"Umbrella review on intimate partner violence against women towards understanding the relevance of data from observatories","volume":"16","author":"Monteiro","year":"2025","journal-title":"Cuad. Educ. Desarro."},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rips.2016.05.002","article-title":"Victimization and gender: effects in the evaluation of subtle and overt violence, adult attachment and conflict resolution tactics","volume":"7","author":"Novoa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Rev. Iberoam. Psicol. Salud"},{"key":"ref45","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.21149\/spm.v56i1.7321","article-title":"Propiedades psicom\u00e9tricas del Cuestionario Maltrato en el Noviazgo en una muestra de mujeres estudiantes mexicanas del nivel medio superior y superior","volume":"56","author":"Osorio-Guzm\u00e1n","year":"2014","journal-title":"Salud Publica Mex."},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.4067\/s0034-98872018000600727","article-title":"Prevalencia de violencia f\u00edsica, abuso verbal y factores asociados en trabajadores\/as de servicios de emergencia en establecimientos de salud p\u00fablicos y privados","volume":"146","author":"Paravic-Klijn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Rev. Med. Chile"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1016\/j.puhe.2017.07.023","article-title":"Association between intimate partner violence and mental health among Korean married women","volume":"152","author":"Park Ryeong","year":"2017","journal-title":"Public Health"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1016\/S0025-7753(04)74273-6","article-title":"Violencia contra la mujer en la pareja y consecuencias en la salud f\u00edsica y ps\u00edquica","volume":"122","author":"Plazaola Casta\u00f1o","year":"2004","journal-title":"Med. Clin."},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0126089","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0126089","article-title":"A questionnaire for the assessment of violent behaviors in young couples: the Italian version of dating violence questionnaire (DVQ)","volume":"10","author":"Presaghi","year":"2015","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"117","DOI":"10.1016\/S0212-6567(04)79480-9","article-title":"Intimate partner violence as a factor associated to health problems","volume":"34","author":"Raya Ortega","year":"2004","journal-title":"Aten. Prim."},{"key":"ref52","author":"Roca Monjo","year":"2011"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1717","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2004.08.026","article-title":"The impact of current and past interpersonal violence on women\u2019s mental health","volume":"60","author":"Romito","year":"2005","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. Med."},{"key":"ref54","first-page":"265","article-title":"An\u00e1lisis Psicom\u00e9trico del Inventario de S\u00edntomas Revisado (SCL-90-R) en Poblaci\u00f3n Cl\u00ednica","volume":"18","author":"Sanchez","year":"2009","journal-title":"Rev. Argent. Cl\u00edn. Psicol."},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1157\/13068222","article-title":"El m\u00e9dico de familia ante las agresiones sexuales","volume":"34","author":"S\u00e1nchez Ram\u00f3n","year":"2004","journal-title":"Aten. Prim."},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1192\/j.eurpsy.2022.130","article-title":"The impact of violence and abuse on mental health of women\u2013current data","volume":"65","author":"Schouler-Ocak","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref57","first-page":"188","volume-title":"La guerra contra las mujeres. Primera edici\u00f3n","author":"Segato","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.12691\/ajams-9-1-2","article-title":"Factor analysis as a tool for survey analysis","volume":"9","author":"Shrestha","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Appl. Math. Stat."},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100809","DOI":"10.1016\/j.edumed.2023.100809","article-title":"Valoraci\u00f3n del instrumento modificado Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure, versi\u00f3n peruana, durante la pandemia COVID-19","volume":"24","author":"Sisniegas-Vergara","year":"2023","journal-title":"Educ. M\u00e9d."},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1590\/s0102-311x2003000100015","article-title":"Gender-based violence, perspectives in Latin America and the Caribbean","volume":"19","author":"Tsapalas","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hisp. Health Care Int."},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gaceta.2018.02.009","article-title":"Validez y confiabilidad de la escala de sentido de coherencia en estudiantes de grado de enfermer\u00eda de una universidad espa\u00f1ola","volume":"33","author":"Vega Mart\u00ednez","year":"2019","journal-title":"Gac. Sanit."},{"key":"ref62","volume-title":"Comportamiento psicom\u00e9trico del Inventario de s\u00edntomas revisado SCL-90 R","author":"Vela","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e70236","DOI":"10.1002\/brb3.70236","article-title":"Intimate partner violence and subsequent depression in women: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of longitudinal studies","volume":"15","author":"Watson","year":"2025","journal-title":"Brain Behav."},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1232","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(02)08221-1","article-title":"Violence against women: global scope and magnitude","volume":"359","author":"Watts","year":"2002","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2191","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2013.281053","article-title":"Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects","volume":"310","year":"2013","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref66","first-page":"2013","author":"Zabala Abarca","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref67","volume-title":"Violence: six sideways reflections","author":"\u017di\u017eek","year":"2008"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Sociology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fsoc.2025.1597261\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]],"date-time":"2025-09-24T05:43:17Z","timestamp":1758692597000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fsoc.2025.1597261\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]]},"references-count":67,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fsoc.2025.1597261"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fsoc.2025.1597261","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-7775"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-7775","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,24]]},"article-number":"1597261"}}