Influencia de la condición de foráneo, apoyo social y motivación académica, sobre la prevalencia del estrés en estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Loja Ecuador, durante el año 2026

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of being a non-local student, social support, and academic motivation on the frequency of stress among college students in the city of Loja in 2026. To this end, a quantitative design with non-experimental characteristics was used, employing a cross-sectional and descriptive-correlational approach, with a non-probability sample of 90 non-local students. An ad hoc sociodemographic questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), the MOS Social Support Questionnaire, and the Academic Motivation Scale (EMA) were administered and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson s correlation coefficient; the results showed a predominance of moderate stress, social support was classified as moderate, and motivation remained stable, primarily due to external demands, with significant negative correlations between stress and all four dimensions of social support led by affective support while amotivation was the only motivational dimension that was positively associated with distress. It is concluded that feeling supported mitigates stress for out-of-town students, whereas demotivation exacerbates it.