Role of Mental Health in Academic Performance of University Students of Karachi

Abstract

Mental health issues are rising in university students at an alarming rate (Beroíza-Valenzuela et al., 2024; Emmerton et al., 2024; McGorry et al., 2025), hence current study aims to examine the role of mental health in the academic performance of university students using a quantitative correlation survey research design. For that data was collected from university students (N= 200; Government n=96; Private n=92; Semi-Government n= 12 of Karachi, Pakistan through purposive convenient sampling with equal gender ratio. For data collection Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF, Keyes, 2009) and Demographic Information Form were used in which the academic performance of students was measured through their GPA and CGPA. The findings showed no relationship between Mental Health (Emotional, Social & Psychological Wellbeing) and academic performance of university students. Furthermore, there is a significant difference in mental health of both genders where male (M=54.9; SD=12.36) students had better mental health as compared to female students (M=47.88; SD=12.30). Male students also had better mental health in all the subdomains i.e., Emotional, Social and Psychological well-being as compared to female students. The current research has important implications for both clinical and educational psychologists.