IVORY TOWER: Gender & locale influence students’ emotional expression, mental health, reveals study

A recent study conducted by Suprit Kaur from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has shed new light on how emotional self-disclosure impacts psychological well-being among undergraduate students. Guided by Dr Rashmi Upreti, an extension scientist and a major advisor, the research offers nuanced insights into gender and locale-based differences across Ludhiana’s rural and urban youth.

The research, which aimed to explore gender and locale-based differences, surveyed a total of 380 students—190 from rural colleges and 190 from urban institutions. The sample was carefully balanced across gender, with 95 male and 95 female participants in each locale, selected randomly from five representative colleges.

Using a self-structured information sheet, the Emotional Self-Disclosure Scale by Snell et al and the Psychological Well-Being Scale by Sisodia and Choudhary, the study revealed nuanced patterns in how young adults expressed emotions and experienced mental well-being.

One of the most striking findings was that girls disclosed their emotions more openly than boys. However, boys reported higher levels of psychological well-being, suggesting that emotional openness does not always correlate with mental health in the same way across genders.

Locale-based analysis added further depth. Urban girls were found to be more emotionally expressive than their rural counterparts, though psychological well-being did not significantly differ between rural and urban students. Among boys, emotional self-disclosure showed a significant negative correlation with life satisfaction and efficiency—indicating that greater emotional openness may be linked to a diminished sense of control or productivity. In contrast, girls demonstrated a positive correlation between emotional self-disclosure and domains such as sociability and interpersonal relations. For them, increased emotional expression appeared to enhance overall psychological well-being.

The study also found that rural students experienced a negative relationship between emotional self-disclosure and life satisfaction and efficiency, while urban students showed a positive link between emotional openness and interpersonal relations. Interestingly, when comparing overall emotional self-disclosure and psychological well-being across locales, the data revealed no significant differences.

Reflecting on the findings, Suprit stated, “Our study suggests that emotional openness can be a double-edged sword—while it enhances interpersonal bonds for girls, it may challenge boys’ sense of efficiency and satisfaction.”

Dr Upreti said, “This research highlights the need for gender-sensitive and locale-aware mental health strategies. Emotional self-disclosure isn’t just a personal trait—it’s shaped by social expectations and cultural context.”

As mental health continues to be a growing concern among youth, especially in academic settings, this study provides valuable insights for educators, counsellors, and policymakers seeking to support students in more empathetic and effective ways.