Well-being in higher education: Comparing students from Bogotá and Bucaramanga, Colombia

Abstract Background Student well-being is a public health priority in higher education, influencing mental health, social integration and academic performance. Despite its importance, few studies explore multidimensional well-being in Latin American students. This study aims to assess well-being across four dimensions and identify gender- and territory-based disparities in two major Colombian cities. Findings may guide inclusive and location-sensitive interventions. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 895 undergraduate students (aged 18-25) from universities in Bogotá and Bucaramanga. Participants completed a validated 34-item Likert-scale questionnaire assessing four well-being dimensions: physical/mental health, social relationships, ethical/moral values, and academic/family support. Mean scores were compared by sex and city using independent-samples t-tests (p < 0.05 considered significant). Results Ethical/moral values had the highest average score (M = 4.40), while academic/family support (M = 3.39) and physical/mental health (M = 3.38) were lower. Men scored higher in physical/mental health than women (M = 3.48 vs. 3.25; p < 0.001), while women scored higher in ethical/moral values (M = 4.50 vs. 4.32; p < 0.001). Students from Bucaramanga scored significantly higher than those from Bogotá in ethical/moral (M = 4.47 vs. 4.36; p < 0.001) and social dimensions (M = 3.53 vs. 3.43; p = 0.024). No significant differences were observed in academic/family support or physical/mental health by city. Conclusions Disparities in well-being by sex and city reveal structural and sociocultural differences that must be addressed through targeted public health strategies. Universities should implement gender-responsive and place-based programs to strengthen ethical awareness, social cohesion, and student mental health. Findings may inform institutional policies and contribute to more equitable health promotion in Latin American higher education systems. Key messages • Gender and territorial disparities in well-being require tailored mental health and equity-oriented interventions in universities. • Bucaramanga students report better ethical and social well-being than peers in Bogotá, signaling contextual inequalities.