Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41176709›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2025

Gender differences in mental health experiences and perceived social support among university students: a qualitative case study.

Aashiq Khan, Irum Zeb, Shuanghu Fang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Aashiq KhanSchool of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4532-8774
Irum ZebSchool of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5480-3990
Shuanghu FangSchool of Educational Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study explores gender differences in university students' experiences with perceived social support (PSS) and its impact on their mental health. It aims to understand how male and female students perceive and use social support and how these differences affect their mental well-being.

methodsInterviews with twenty students (10 males and 10 females) from a large public university in China.

resultsThematic analysis revealed gender differences. Female students showed stronger emotional connections with support networks but experienced added pressure from academic demands and traditional gender roles. Male students were less likely to share emotions due to cultural expectations of masculinity, which led to feelings of isolation and emotional strain. Faculty support played an important role in easing students' stress.

conclusionFindings highlight the need for gender-sensitive mental health strategies and inclusive policies that reduce cultural stigma and improve support systems in higher education.

Indexed as

Mental HealthSocial SupportStudentsAdultChinaEmotionsFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchSex FactorsStress, PsychologicalUniversitiesYoung AdultGender differencesmental healthperceived social supportperceptionsuniversity students

Identifiers

PMID41176709
PMCPMC12581782

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.