Abstract

ROVIDA, Tânia Adas Saliba et al. Stress and lifestyle of freshmen in dentistry course. Rev. ABENO [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.3, pp. 26-34. ISSN 1679-5954.

The stress among undergraduate students in health care courses has been investigated in recent years. Among the changes on these students when starting their courses at the university, it was noticed the adopting of a new lifestyle, which may be related to the state of anxiety. The aim of this study was to verify the self-perception of stress, anxiety and depression of freshmen in undergraduate dental students, associating physiological response to stress and analyzing their lifestyles. The study was based on laboratory samples from 25 students that started their dentistry course in 2014 in a public institution. Two validated instruments were applied: DASS 21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) and PEVI (Individual Lifestyle Profile) and the dosage of the hormone cortisol in 75 saliva samples collected at three times on a day, using the ELISA laboratory method. The stress and anxiety were present in 60% and depression was observed in 36% of the subjects. As for lifestyle, 40% had less than desirable profile and 26% undesirable in the field of nutrition, 40% undesirable physical activity and none had desired profile in stress management. High cortisol concentrations were present in 60% of the sample, but there was no significant association with the perception of stress (p = 0.40). It was concluded that most of the students had perceived stress, anxiety, and high concentrations of salivary cortisol. Most did not present desirable lifestyle patterns in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and stress management.

Keywords : Students.; Lifestyle.; Stress.; Cortisol..