Spatial Dynamics of Student Conflicts in Spanish Higher Education: Gender and Academic Discipline Differences in
Gloria Rojas-Ruiz1, Ángel Custodio Mingorance-Estrada1, Inmaculada Alemany-Arrebola2
1Department of Didactics and School Organization, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain.
Abstract:
Universities function as social systems in which physical, structural and symbolic dimensions shape students' relationships and well-being. This study explored the university spaces in which students perceive and manage interpersonal conflicts, analysing differences by gender and academic discipline. A sample of 1262 students completed the University Conflict Questionnaire (UCQ). The three-dimensional structure was validated using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Inferential analysis included Welch's t-test and ANOVA to compare gender and year group, estimating the effect using Hedges' g. Finally, a MANOVA was conducted to test for interaction effects. The results indicate that conflicts are most frequently addressed in shared and interactive areas, whilst institutional and study spaces are less prone to conflict. Classrooms were key contexts for both the emergence and resolution of conflicts, underscoring the role of lecturers in fostering inclusion. Women reported fewer conflicts in institutional spaces, and differences related to discipline were modest. The results highlight the influence of structural conditions and the need for institutional strategies that incorporate students' perspectives and training in mediation. These findings highlight the importance of considering university spaces in the design of strategies to promote coexistence and student well-being.
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