Keywords
Academic
Mental health
Calidad del sueño
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between physical exercise practice, mental health and sleep pattern of dental students from a private university in the municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão. Additionally, this study aims to assess the perception of these students regarding the main barriers that hinder or prevent regular physical exercise practice during undergraduate training. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive and exploratory study was carried out with dentistry students from a private university in Imperatriz/MA. Four questionnaires will be applied online. Results: 146 dentistry students participated, predominantly young women. Even though most reported regular physical activity, the majority reported a low or moderate perception of physical fitness. The high academic load and poor quality of the year are identified as the main difficulties. A high frequency of possible or probable symptoms of anxiety and depression was observed. The practice of physical activity was significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms, but not anxiety. Conclusion: A high prevalence of anxiety, depression and changes in weight loss was found among dentistry students, which indicates the impact of academic demands on mental health. Regular physical activity stands out as a protective factor against depressive symptoms.
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