Characterization of the Psychological Safety of Cuban University Students in Relation to Disaster Situations in the current context

Abstract

Throughout the years, humanity has suffered the threats of major disasters and their economic, social, and psychological consequences for victims. Cuba, given its geographical and climatic characteristics, has been especially vulnerable. The study of psychological safety has gained practical relevance due to its contribution to the mental health of personnel tasked with providing aid to victims in these contexts, among whom are psychologists. The objective of this work was to characterize psychological safety among final-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Havana in relation to disaster situations in the current context. To this end, a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out with an intentional sample of 20 final-year students selected from both the Regular Day Course and Session-Based Course modalities. The instruments “Mental Health Screening” and “States of Psychological Safety” were applied. A predominance of mental health vulnerability and a state of excessive psychological safety were found among students. It was concluded that the psychological safety of final-year Psychology students in relation to disaster situations represents a challenge, even though it was not assessed during an emergency context but rather in the current moment.