Prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors in students of a Brazilian public university

Rodrigues, Daniela da Silva; Cruz, Daniel Marinho Cezar da; Nascimento, Janaína Santos; Cid, Maria Fernanda Barboza

doi:10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAO252833052

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Original Article • Cad. Bras. Ter. Ocup. 30 • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAO252833052 copy

Prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors in students of a Brazilian public university

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective

Describe the profile of students in the health and exact undergraduate courses of a public university in the Midwest region of Brazil, determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among these students, and verify the sociodemographic and course-related factors associated with their occurrence.

Method

A cross-sectional and relational study was carried out from May to September 2020 with a sample of 493 students who answered a survey on sociodemographic variables and the Self-reporting Questionnaire (SRQ 20). We conducted descriptive analyses of the variables and logistic regression, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0. A cutoff point ≥7 was adopted in the SRQ-20 for suspected CMD.

Results

The prevalence of CMD in the sample was 66.1%. Comparison between the groups (with or without CMD) showed that the highest prevalence rates were linked to the female gender (p<0.001) and undergoing health care treatment (p<0.001). Regression analysis indicated significant predictors for CMD being female (p<0.001) and being enrolled in exact science courses (p=0.050).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of CMD reinforces the need to invest in the creation of care spaces that pay special attention to women and exact sciences students, in addition to discussing student assistance policies aimed at promoting the health, well-being, and care of university students.

Keywords:
Education Higher; Students; Mental Disorders; Mental Health Assistance

Instrument questions	Yes		No
Instrument questions	n	%	n	%
1. Do you have frequent headaches?	220	44.6%	273	55.4%
2. Do you have a lack of appetite?	126	25.6%	367	74.4%
3. Do you sleep badly?	290	58.8%	203	412%
4. Are you easily scared?	187	37.9%	306	62.1%
5. Do you have hand tremors?	148	30.0%	345	70.0%
6. Do you feel nervous, tense, or worried	431	87.4%	62	12.6%
7. Do you have bad digestion?	163	33.1%	330	66.9%
8. Do you have trouble thinking clearly?	233	47.3%	260	52.7%
9. Have you been feeling sad lately?	293	59.4%	200	40.6%
10. Have you been crying more than usual?	170	34.5%	323	65.5%
11. Do you find it difficult to carry out your daily activities with satisfaction?	342	69.4%	151	30.6%
12. Do you have difficulty making decisions?	334	67.7%	159	32.3%
13. Do you have difficulties at university (your activity is painful, and causes suffering)?	235	47.7%	258	52.3%
14. Are you unable to play a useful role in your life?	125	25.4%	368	74.6%
15. Have you lost interest in things?	280	56.8%	213	43.2%
16. Do you feel like a useless person?	199	40.4%	294	59.6%
17. Have you had ideas for ending your life?	71	14.4%	422	85.6%
18. Do you feel tired all the time?	275	55.8%	218	44.2%
19. Do you have unpleasant sensations in your stomach?	200	40.6%	293	59.4%
20. Do you get tired easily?	299	60.6%	194	39.4%

Common mental disorders
Variables	Yes	No	PR*	PCR†	p‡
Variables	n (%)	n (%)	PR*	PCR†	p‡
Gender
Female	241(73.5%)	87(26.5%)	1.45(1.22-1.71)	2.70(1.81-4.02)	0.001
Male	79(50.6%)	77(49.4%)	1.45(1.22-1.71)	2.70(1.81-4.02)	0.001
Age group
15-19 years old	84(63.6%)	48(36.4%)	1.05(0.90-1.22)	1.16(0.76-1.76)	0.480
≥20	242(67%)	119(33%)	1.05(0.90-1.22)	1.16(0.76-1.76)	0.480
Marital status
Married	17(70.8%)	7(29.2%)	1.07(0.82-1.40)	1.25(0.51-3.09)	0.617
Single	309(65.9%)	160(34.1%)	1.07(0.82-1.40)	1.25(0.51-3.09)	0.617
Skin color
White	147(64.8%)	80(35.2%)	1.03(0.91-1.17)	1.11(0.76-1.62)	0.517
Brown or black	174(67.2%)	85(32.8%)	1.03(0.91-1.17)	1.11(0.76-1.62)	0.517
Income (minimum wage)
≤4 wages	188(67.9%)	89(32.1%)	1.06(0.93-1.20)	1.19(0.82-1.73)	0.354
>4 wages	138(63.9%)	78(36.1%)	1.06(0.93-1.20)	1.19(0.82-1.73)	0.354
Live with
Alone/friends/colleagues	43(74.1%)	15(25.9%)	1.14(0.96-1.34)	1.54(0.82-2.86)	0.170
With parents or relatives	283(65.1%)	152(34.9%)	1.14(0.96-1.34)	1.54(0.82-2.86)	0.170
Course area
Health	237(66.6%)	119(33.4%)	1.02(0.88-1.18)	1.07(0.71-1.62)	0.735
Exact Sciences	89(65%)	48(35%)	1.02(0.88-1.18)	1.07(0.71-1.62)	0.735
Years in college
1^st to 2^nd year	129(66.8%)	64(33.2%)	1.01(0.89-1.15)	1.05(0.71-1.54)	0.788
2^nd year or more	197(65.7%)	103(34.3%)	1.01(0.89-1.15)	1.05(0.71-1.54)	0.788
Health monitoring
Yes (psychiatry/psychotherapy)	89(88.1%)	12(11.9%)	1.45(1.30-1.62)	4.85(2.56-9.16)	0.001
No	237(60.5%)	155(39.5%)	1.45(1.30-1.62)	4.85(2.56-9.16)	0.001

Variables		PCR*	CI 95%†	p‡
Gender	Male	-	-	-
Gender	Female	3.10	1.97 - 4.87	<0.001
Age group (years old)		1.00	0.94 - 1.08	0.810
Race/skin color	Black or brown	1.18	0.79 - 1.76	0.419
Race/skin color	White	-	-	-
Live with	With parents or relatives	-	-	-
Live with	Alone/friends/colleagues	1.42	0.69 - 2.90	0.332
Income (in wages)		0.98	0.90 - 1.07	0.737
Course	Health	-	-	-
Course	Exact Science	1.63	0.98 - 2.71	0.050
Semesters		1.03	0.94 - 1.12	0.471

Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Terapia Ocupacional Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, Caixa Postal 676, CEP: , 13565-905, São Carlos, SP - Brasil, Tel.: 55-16-3361-8749 - São Carlos - SP - Brazil
E-mail: cadto@ufscar.br

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[1] Author´s Contributions

Daniela da Silva Rodrigues: She elaborated the research, data collection and analysis, organization of results, discussion and writing of the article. Daniel Marinho Cezar da Cruz: He contributed to the relevant critical review of the article. Janaína Santos Nascimento: She contributed to the treatment and analysis of the data and relevant critical review of the article. Maria Fernanda Barboza Cid: Guidance for all stages of the study and relevant critical review.