Unhappiness in the students of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Peru

The study reviews the assertions of the students of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano of Puno (Andean zone of Peru), with the objective of analyzing the factors that generate unhappiness in them from difficult situations in the university and family spaces. The mixed approach was applied with open semi-structured interviews; then, a questionnaire with a Likert scale was formulated to 2779 students. The validity of the instrument was determined by the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient, with a high value of 0.978; and its reliability, by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, with a value of 0.960. The results allowed us to discover five unhappiness factors related to: academic performance; the teacher-student relationship; university policy and management; family, economy and health; and relationships between peers, friends and partner. It was concluded that (1) low academic performance generates frustration and stress; (2) the intolerant and authoritarian behaviors of teachers underestimate, mainly, the female gender; (3) the lack of implementation and equipment of the laboratories, and the bureaucratic systems produce submission; (4) the absence of the family, the poor economic condition and the deterioration of the family's health make them sad; and (5) the disunity between classmates, the abandonment of friends and the breakdown of couple relationships cause instability and crises in their academic life. The study invites us to reflect and promote university policies in an environment where university students achieve learning in an environment of well-being and happiness.