Fontes de estresse, bem-estar psicológico e saúde geral em estudantes de odontologia: uma comparação entre fases pré-clínica e clínica e entre os sexos

Abstract

This study aimed to compare, between pre-clinical and clinical phases and between sexes, the stress sources, psychological well-being, and general health of Dentistry students from universities of Brazil. Three instruments were applied: Dental Environment Stress (DES), Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) and Health Survey (SF-36). A total of 203 students answered the questionnaires, 75 (37%) in the pre-clinical and 128 (63%) in the clinical phase. Of these, 59 (29%) were men and 144 (71%) were women. Comparisons were performed by the Mann-Whitney test, with a significance level of 5%. In DES domains (difficulties and insecurities about the professional future; responsibility with patients; personal and institutional factors; interpersonal relations), students in the pre-clinical phase demonstrated significantly lower scores when compared to students in the clinical phase. In the total score of PGWB and in two domains (anxiety and general health), it was observed significantly lower scores in students in the pre-clinical phase. Regarding SF-36, four domains (body pain, physical function, social function and physical role) presented significantly better healt perception in students from the pre-clinical phase. Between the sexes, two domains of DES (academic performance and difficulties and insecurities about the professional future) showed significantly lower scores in male students. The PGWB showed significant differences in four domains (depressed mood, self-control, general health, and vitality), as better psychological well-being was detected in male. Males also presented significantly better vitality in SF-36 domain. It was concluded that pre-clinical and male students demonstrated a lower sources of stress, better well-being and general health perception.