Banca de DEFESA: JULIANA AVILA DE SOUZA

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : JULIANA AVILA DE SOUZA
DATE: 23/04/2024
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Auditorio do Instituto do Cérebro
TITLE:

Mental health, sleep, dreams, and psychosocial safety climate in higher education.

KEY WORDS:

Depression; anxiety; sleep; dreams; psychosocial safety climate; higher education;

PAGES: 140
BIG AREA: Ciências Biológicas
AREA: Fisiologia
SUMMARY:

Mental health issues among graduate students have sparked debate within the academic community. Previous studies identified anxiety and depression levels up to 6 times higher than the general population. Sleep disorders and substance abuse are also commonly reported. The phenomenon of academic suffering requires further research to identify etiological factors – intrinsic or extrinsic to the individual – for preventive actions and support. The present study aimed to investigate risk and protective factors for mental illness among a Brazilian sample. 476 graduate students (mean age 33.9, SD=8.62) from all Brazilian regions completed an online questionnaire, as approved by the local ethics committee (CAAE: 54127221.0.0000.5537). Questions covered sociodemographics aspects, lifestyle and health, COVID-19 impact, academic experiences, social context, and dream reports. Psychometric screening instruments for depression (PHQ-9: mean=13.8, SD=7.21), anxiety (GAD-7: mean=11.9, SD=6.23), sleep disorders (PSQI: mean=8.41, SD=3.85), and psychosocial safety climate (PSC-12: mean=35, SD=18) were also applied. Non-parametric t-test was performed with the PSC-12 classification for mental illness risk as a grouping variable. Participants in the high risk (HR) group had significantly higher scores than those in the low risk (LR) group, indicating a higher presence of symptoms for depression (HR: mean=14.4, SD=6.89; LR: mean=11, SD=7.92; U=12337, p<.001, r=0.271), anxiety (HR: mean=12.4, SD=6.13; LR: mean=9.62, SD=6.18; U=12661, p<.001, r=0.252), sleep disorders (HR: mean=8.68, SD=3.81; LR: mean=7.18, SD=3.85; U=13197, p=.001, r=0.220) and an increased frequency of nightmares (HR: mean=1.53, SD=0.33; LR: mean=1.44, SD=0.34; U=1438, p=0.022, r=0.150). Linear regression analysis with PSC-12 scores as a predictable variable were statistically significant for depression (R2=0.0570, F(1,474)=28.7, p<.001), anxiety (R2=0.0443, F(1;474)=22, p<.001), sleep disorders (R2=0.104, F(1;465)=53.9) and nightmare frequency (R2=0.0221, F(1;474)=10.7, p=0.001). The frequency of nightmares was also significantly associated with outcomes on depressive symptoms (PHQ-9: R2=0.102, F=53.9, p<.001; Rho(474)=0.326, t=7.34, p<.001), anxiety (GAD-7: R2=0.114, F=61.1, p<.001; Rho(474)=0.342, t=7.82, p<.001), and sleep disorders (PSQI: R2=0.104, F(1,465)=53.9, p<.001; Rho(465)= 0.323, t=6.61, p<.001), indicating that the occurrence of nightmares can be discussed as a clinical indicator of mental distress. Global mental health challenges have reached new proportions after the COVID-19 pandemic. Predictions about future pandemics and global warming-related crises are not optimistic, and the main hope for dealing with these issues should come from future scientific and technological advances. Taking into account that increasing diversity in science is a direct way to enhance the diversity of approaches and creativity in problem-solving, there’s a responsibility to protect scientists in their formative years in order to minimize mental health issues, career abandonment and suicide rates among academics. 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - LEONARDO DE OLIVEIRA BARROS - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - ADRIANO DE LEMOS ALVES PEIXOTO - UFBA
Externa à Instituição - LETICIA DE OLIVEIRA - UFF
Externa ao Programa - 1718518 - NICOLE LEITE GALVAO COELHO - nullPresidente - 1660044 - SIDARTA TOLLENDAL GOMES RIBEIRO