Summary  The purpose of this study was to determine the level of academic stress and its impact on selective attention among university students. To achieve this, the level of academic stress was identified, and the levels of selective attention experienced by the students were analyzed. The study is quantitative and correlational in nature. The SISCO SV inventory and the D2 attention test were applied, while the correlation was determined using Kendall’s Tau-b. The sample consisted of 305 students from the Technical University of Ambato. The main findings indicate that 36% of the participants exhibited severe levels of stress, while 49% experienced moderate stress. Regarding attention, 37% demonstrated low visual processing capacity, and 56% showed low concentration. A significant negative correlation was found between selective attention and academic stress, suggesting that visual processing capacity and concentration decrease as stress levels increase. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of addressing academic stress as a priority in educational and mental health strategies.

Key words:
stress; selective attention; academic performance; well-being; emotions