Contrast of structural stress in Peruvian public and private universities

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the levels of university structural stress among students from Peruvian public and private institutions. A quantitative, basic research design was employed, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and comparative approach. The sample consisted of 800 undergraduate students (400 from public universities and 400 from private universities), selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. A 27-item questionnaire was administered, organized into three dimensions: administrative procedures, bureaucratic overload, and academic predictability, using a five-point Likert scale. The instrument was validated through expert judgment and a prior pilot test. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, and effect size calculations. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the total structural stress score between both groups, with higher levels observed among students from private universities (t(798) = −4.98, p < .001; d ≈ 0.35). This pattern was replicated across the three dimensions and remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons. It is concluded that although university structural stress is often socially associated with the public sector, the findings of this study indicate higher levels in the private sector, potentially affecting the overall student experience