Waléria de Paula

Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) are movement behaviors that have been associated with mental health. Evidence suggests that replacing SB with PA may influence mental disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing time spent in SB with moderate-intensity PA (MPA) and vigorous-intensity (VPA) on the symptoms of anxiety and depression among college students. This cross-sectional study used data from a multicenter survey conducted among undergraduate students from eight public universities in Brazil. Data were collected between October 2021 and February 2022 using an online questionnaire sent via email. The outcomes were anxiety and depression symptoms, assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Exposure to SB was evaluated by the total sitting time and PA level, considering the type of exercise, weekly frequency, and duration in minutes. Subsequently, PA was classified according to its intensity. The explanatory variable was adherence to the 24-hour movement guidelines, assessed by combining the time spent in SB and PA. Based on this, three groups were formed: (1) complete adherence, (2) partial adherence, and (3) non-adherence. An isotemporal substitution logistic model was used to assess the effects of the different SB, MPA, and VPA periods on mental health. A total of 8,059 young adults participated in the study, with a mean age of 23.9 years (SD: ± 6.28). Most students reported spending more than 9 h/day in SB (55.09%), and 48.28% were physically inactive. The multivariate analysis revealed an association between non-adherence to movement guidelines and mental health (p < 0.001), showing a dose-response gradient. Students who did not adhere to the guidelines were more likely to have symptoms of anxiety [OR: 1.89 (95% CI: 1.67–2.14)] and depression [OR: 2.49 (95% CI: 2.19–2.82)]. Furthermore, in the isotemporal analysis, replacing SB with equivalent amounts of time in MPA and VPA reduced the odds of mental disorder symptoms in all models evaluated. Replacing SB with equivalent quantities of MPA or VPA reduces the odds of symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is essential to develop public policies that encourage increased PA levels and reduced SB in university environments to promote mental health and improve the physical health of students with mental disorder symptoms.

Emotional eating refers to overeating triggered by negative emotions, and it is common among those with mental health challenges. Academics are vulnerable to changes in eating habits and mental well-being, especially after the pandemic began. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between emotional eating and the signs and symptoms of mental disorders in undergraduates aged 18 and older. They completed a virtual questionnaire assessing emotional eating using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and mental health by a reduced version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. In this cross-sectional, multicenter survey, 8650 students (65.7% female, average age 22) participated, with a median body mass index of 23.3 kg/m², and 23.8% were enrolled in health-related courses. The median emotional eating score was 44.4 (22.2–66.7), and a large proportion had symptoms of depression (73.2%), stress (68.1%), and anxiety (66.1%). Symptoms of anxiety (CI = 1.291–1.714), depression (CI = 1.469–1.983), and stress (CI = 1.483–2.006) were independently associated with higher emotional eating scores (≥66.7) in multiple regression analyses. Based on the significant associations found, the importance of integrating mental health support and intervention strategies, such as psychological counseling and nutritional guidance, to mitigate emotional eating among university students is highlighted, along with the need for future studies to explore the causal relationships.

Objective: To evaluate the association between food consumption, according to the extent and purpose of food processing, and the quality of life of university students from different fields of knowledge.

Objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre consumo alimentar, segundo a extensão e finalidade do processamento de alimentos, e a qualidade de vida de estudantes universitários de diferentes áreas do conhecimento.

BACKGROUND: Studies assessing the prevalence of mental disorders in the context of remote teaching in Brazil during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression and their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN AND SETTING: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted at eight Brazilian public universities. METHODS: This study was conducted on students regularly enrolled in undergraduate courses. Data were collected between October 2021 and February 2022 using an online self-administered questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic and academic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and health conditions. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. The variables were analyzed descriptively using frequency distribution, proportion, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), and Pearson’s chi-squared test. RESULTS: A total of 8,650 students participated, and most of them were women, white, heterosexual, cisgender, and unmarried, with a mean age of 23.9 (standard deviation: ± 6.34) years and living with family members. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were observed in 59.7% (95% CI: 58.7–60.7) and 63.0% (95% CI: 62.0–64.0) of the students, respectively. These symptoms were associated with sex, age, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, education of the head of the family, family income, decrease in income during the pandemic, and area of knowledge. CONCLUSION: Most university students showed symptoms of anxiety and depression during the suspension of face-to-face activities in universities, indicating the need for institutional actions and public policies aimed at promoting their health and mental well-being.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have had an impact on the mental health of university students and, consequently, led to the initiation on psychotropic medications or an increase on its use. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of the use of psychotropic medications among university students and evaluate the association of the use of such medicine with students who belong to minority groups. This is a cross-sectional study, in which all students enrolled in undergraduate courses at eight Brazilian public universities were invited to answer an online self-administered questionnaire. The data collection was conducted from October 2021 to February 2022. The outcome was the use of psychotropic medications and the explanatory variables were students who belong to minority groups, such as female, black, mixed-race, and other skin colors, and LGBTQIAPN+ individuals. The variables were descriptively analyzed and Pearson’s chi-squared test and multinomial logistic regression were performed. A total of 8,650 students participated in the study, of which 25.7% reported using psychotropic medications in the 30 days prior to completing the questionnaire. It was observed that among students, female (OR = 1.8; 95%CI: 1.41-2.20) and non-heterosexual (OR = 1.5; 95%CI: 1.23-1.80) had higher chances of using psychotropic medications during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was found that university students began using psychotropic medications and the association of its use with minority groups was observed.

Background: Movement behaviours, such as sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity, have become a public health issue due to their implications for physical and mental health. The literature indicates that the university environment influences the movement behaviors of university students, and the strategies adopted during the pandemic may have favored a decrease in the practice of physical activity and an increase in the time dedicated to SB in this population. We aimed to evaluate the association of SB and moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity (MVPA) with presence of symptoms of mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a multicenter survey conducted with undergraduate students from eight Brazilian universities between October 2021 and February 2022 using an online questionnaire. The outcome variable was symptoms of anxiety and depression, assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. SB was assessed by total sitting time, being that individuals with ≥ 9 h/day were classified with high SB. The practice of MVPA was evaluated based on weekly frequency, duration, and type of exercise. Subsequently, the ratio between the time spent in MVPA (minutes/day) and the time spent in SB (hours/day) was calculated, being considered as cutoff point was the practice of 2.5 min of MVPA for each sedentary hour. To assess the association between the outcome and explanatory variables, multivariable logistic regression was performed. Results: A total of 8,650 students participated in the study, with an average age of 23.9 years (SD: ± 6.34). In the multivariate analysis, the odds of anxiety symptoms [OR: 1.37 (95% CI: 1.24–1.50)] and depression [OR: 1.61 (95% CI: 1.47–1.77)] were higher in individuals with ≥ 9 h of SB per day. In the analysis of the relationship between MVPA and SB, not engaging in 2.5 min of MVPA per hour of SB increases the odds of anxiety symptoms [OR: 1.44 (95% CI: 1.31–1.58)] and depression [OR: 1.74 (95% CI: 1.59–1.92)]. Conclusion: The results suggest that SB is a risk factor associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression and that not engaging in MVPA exacerbates the negative effects of SB.

Objective: to evaluate the association between quality of life and presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in college students in the health area. Method: cross-sectional study that included 321 students from undergraduate courses in the health area. Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization scale, abbreviated version, in the physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains, and symptoms were assessed by the depression, anxiety and stress scale. Multivariate analysis was performed using robust linear regression to evaluate the association between quality of life and symptoms. Results: a negative association was observed between the quality of life and depression symptoms in all domains, while anxiety symptoms showed a negative association in the environment domain, and stress symptoms had a negative association in the psychological domain. Symptom severity was unfavorably associated with quality of life, that is, the greater the symptom severity, the lower the mean scores in all domains. Conclusion: symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were prevalent and had a negative impact on students’ quality of life, especially in the presence of depressive symptoms. The decrease in scores was significantly associated with the severity of symptoms.

Objetivo: avaliar a associação entre qualidade de vida e presença de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse em estudantes universitários da área da saúde. Método: estudo transversal que incluiu 321 estudantes de cursos de graduação da área da saúde. A qualidade de vida foi mensurada por meio da escala da Organização Mundial da Saúde, versão abreviada, nos domínios físico, psicológico, relações sociais e meio ambiente, e os sintomas avaliados pela escala de depressão, ansiedade e estresse. Foi realizada análise multivariada utilizando regressão linear robusta para avaliar a associação entre qualidade de vida e sintomas apresentados. Resultados: observou- se associação negativa entre qualidade de vida e sintomas de depressão em todos os domínios, enquanto os sintomas de ansiedade apresentaram associação negativa no domínio meio ambiente, e os sintomas de estresse tiveram associação negativa no domínio psicológico. A gravidade dos sintomas associou-se de forma desfavorável com a qualidade de vida, ou seja, quanto maior a gravidade dos sintomas, menor a média dos escores em todos os domínios. Conclusão: sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse mostraram-se prevalentes e com impacto negativo na qualidade de vida dos estudantes, principalmente na presença de sintomas depressivos. A diminuição dos escores foi significativamente associada à gravidade dos sintomas.