by Le Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Ngoc Huyen, Hoang Thi Hanh, Lê Thu Hiền, Pham Ngoc Linh*
ABSTRACT
Psychological distress among university students has become a prominent concern in contemporary mental health research, particularly within the fields of psychology and social sciences. Prior studies suggest that gender differences in mental health are not only reflected in symptom expression but are also shaped by socially constructed roles, emotional regulation patterns, and preferred coping processes. However, empirical evidence integrating psychological symptoms with coping strategies in the Vietnamese university context remains limited. This study aimed to investigate gender differences in psychological distress and coping processes among university students, and to examine how different coping strategies are associated with mental health symptoms as assessed by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 535 undergraduate students (37.2% male, 62.8% female). Participants completed the
SCL-90-R and a structured questionnaire assessing coping strategies. Additional variables included sociodemographic characteristics, living arrangements, and perceived economic status. Independent t-tests and multivariate regression analyses were employed to examine gender-based differences and to explore associations between coping patterns and psychological symptoms. Results: Female students reported
significantly higher levels of internalizing symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety, whereas male students exhibited relatively higher scores in interpersonal sensitivity and psychoticism-related dimensions. Gender differences were also observed in coping processes. Female students more frequently adopted emotion focused and support-seeking strategies, reflecting greater interpersonal engagement in stress management. In contrast, male students tended to rely on externalizing or avoidance-oriented coping responses. Regression
analyses indicated that maladaptive coping strategies were positively associated with psychological distress across both genders. Notably, adaptive coping strategies demonstrated stronger protective effects among female students, while structural coping style and social competence emerged as salient resilience-related factors among male students. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of a gender-sensitive,
social–psychological approach to understanding mental health among university students. Gender differences in psychological distress are closely intertwined with distinct coping processes shaped by socialization and emotional norms. Mental health interventions in academic settings should therefore move beyond symptom reduction and incorporate gender-responsive strategies that strengthen adaptive coping and resilience
resources.
