Dados do Trabalho

Título

Sleep quality and mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introdução

University students are considered vulnerable to different situations, due to multiple factors, such as increased levels of stress, depression and anxiety, triggered by graduation demands and difficulty in reconciling them with other responsibilities. During the suspension of presential classes, as a protective measure against the spread of COVID-19, these symptoms were intensified, reflecting negatively on sleep quality and mental health.

Objetivo

To estimate the prevalence and association of poor sleep quality and mental health in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Métodos

Cross-sectional study, at a federal university located in the Midwest region of Brazil. An instrument for sociodemographic characterization, a questionnaire for screening for common mental disorders (SRQ-20) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), instruments validated for Brazilian population were applied.

Resultados

253 students participated in the study. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 62.8% (n=159) and common mental disorder 58.1% (n=147), which were 3.95 times more likely to have poor sleep quality (95% CI 2.30-6.80, p < 0.00).

Conclusões

Students with common mental disorder were more prone to poor sleep quality. The results demonstrate their vulnerabilities, a fact that points to the need for interventions regarding sleep hygiene, aiming at the integral health of these individuals.

Palavras -chave

University students; Mental health; Sleep hygiene