Viñanzaca López, Juan PabloAlvarez Soliz, Viviana EstefaniaRosero Grijalva, Aldo Jhosefat2026-07-292026-07-292026Normas APA3BT2026-PST26https://dspace.ucacue.edu.ec/handle/ucacue/22567Introducción. La sintomatología depresiva (SD) constituye un problema de salud pública asociado a alteraciones emocionales y cognitivas. La recompensa ambiental (RA) y las funciones ejecutivas (FEs) han sido identificadas como variables relevantes para comprender su desarrollo y mantenimiento. Objetivo. Analizar la relación entre la RA, las FEs autorreportadas y la SD, así como las diferencias entre individuos con y sin SD en adultos emergentes de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca. Metodología. Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo, observacional, transversal y comparativo-correlacional. Participaron 422 estudiantes universitarios de entre 18 y 29 años, seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se aplicaron la subescala de depresión del Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, la Executive functions scale for university students y la Environmental Reward Observation Scale. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadísticos descriptivos e inferenciales (α = .05). Resultados. Se observaron asociaciones significativas en la distribución de la SD según el sexo (χ² = 8.74, p = .003) y la residencia (χ² = 4.96, p = .026). Los participantes con SD presentaron menores niveles de RA y FEs. Además, la SD se correlacionó negativamente con la RA (ρ = −.487, p < .001) y las FEs (ρ = −.400, p < .001), mientras que la RA se relacionó positivamente con las FEs (ρ = .482, p < .001). Conclusión. Mayores niveles de RA y mejor funcionamiento ejecutivo se asociaron con menores niveles de SD. Los hallazgos destacan la relevancia de los factores ambientales y cognitivos en la comprensión de la salud mental de los adultos emergentes universitarios.Introduction. Depressive symptoms (DS) constitute a public health problem associated with emotional and cognitive impairments. Environmental reward (ER) and executive functions (EFs) have been identified as relevant variables for understanding the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms. Objective. To analyze the relationship between environmental reward, self-reported executive functions, and depressive symptoms, as well as the differences between individuals with and without depressive symptoms among emerging adults at the Catholic University of Cuenca. Methodology. A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and comparative-correlational study was conducted. The sample consisted of 422 university students aged 18 to 29 years, selected using non-probability convenience sampling. The Depression Subscale of the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Executive Functions Scale for University Students, and the Environmental Reward Observation Scale were administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (α = .05). Results. Significant associations were observed between the distribution of depressive symptoms according to sex (χ² = 8.74, p = .003) and place of residence (χ² = 4.96, p = .026). Participants with depressive symptoms exhibited lower levels of environmental reward and executive functions. Furthermore, depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with environmental reward (ρ = −.487, p < .001) and executive functions (ρ = −.400, p < .001), whereas environmental reward was positively correlated with executive functions (ρ = .482, p < .001). Conclusion. Higher levels of environmental reward and better executive functioning were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of environmental and cognitive factors in understanding the mental health of emerging adult university students.application/pdf41 páginasspainfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAtribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.esRecompensamedio socialsíntomas afectivosfunción ejecutivapsicometríainfo:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis