Correlação entre sintomas de ansiedade e depressão em estudantes dos cursos da área da saúde na Universidade Estadual do Piauí

Abstract

ABSTRACT The mental health of university students has received increasing attention due to the high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, which compromise academic performance, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life. In this context, the present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of these symptoms among students enrolled in the Physical Education and Nursing programs at the State University of Piauí- Professor Barros Araujo Campus and to examine their relationship with different domains of quality of life. This is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted with participants over 18 years of age, who completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the WHOQOL-bref. Statistical analysis, performed using the JASP 0.95.1 software, showed that high levels of anxiety and moderate to severe depressive symptoms are directly correlation with poorer perceptions of quality of life, especially in the psychological and physical domains, and are influenced by factors such as insomnia, physical inactivity, and academic overload. The reviewed literature reinforces that anxiety and depression tend to coexist and mutually intensify their effects, whereas regular physical activity emerges as a positive mediator in reducing symptoms—though it was scarcely reported among the participants. It is concluded that students’ mental health is considerably compromised, underscoring the need for institutional policies aimed at promoting emotional well-being, preventing psychological distress, and encouraging healthy behaviors to support student retention and comprehensive development. Keywords: anxiety; depression; quality of life; students; mental health.