The British Journal of Psychiatry 146: 144-150 (1985)
© 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Academic difficulty among male Egyptian university students. II. Associations with demographic and psychological factors
A Okasha, M Kamel, F Lotaif, AH Khalil and Z Bishry
We compared 178 students with academic problems with 77 academically
successful students. Academic difficulty showed highly significant
associations with low socio-economic status, over-crowded housing, paternal
behaviour problems and a poor relationship between the parents; also
significant associations with family history of psychiatric disorder and
living away from home. Academic achievement at school was no guide to
university performance. Failed students had fewer friendships, especially
with women, and more limited recreational activities. They also scored
significantly lower on tests of verbal and non-verbal IQ, and worse on the
Bender Gestalt and trail-making tests. EPQ results suggested that
university students, particularly those with academic difficulties, are
more neurotic and introverted than the general Egyptian population.