Assessment of levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life in pre-college students

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.159312301011

• Palavras-chave: Adolescence, Entrance Examination, Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life.

• Keywords: Adolescence, Entrance Examination, Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life.

• Abstract:

  INTRODUCTION: The main task of adolescence is the search for an adult identity, which highlights insertion in a higher education course, the gateway to professional qualification. During the preparation, disorders that compromise the mental health and quality of life of adolescents and young people can develop. The study evaluated the levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life in young people in a pre-university course, correlating them with social, demographic and academic factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study with pre-college students who took one or more tests of the College entrance exam - 2021. An online questionnaire was applied to collect socio-demographic data and measured levels of anxiety and depression (HAD scale) and quality of life (SF -36). Results submitted to statistical analysis. Project approved by CEP - opinion 5,107,639. RESULT: The sample consisted of 62 students, of which 67.77% were between 17-18 years old, predominantly female (79.03%), mostly belonging to classes D and E (82.26%). The majority (83.87%) had completed high school and came from a public school (83.87%). 72.58% were attending the first year of the prep course and 25.81% indicated they wanted to enroll in the Medicine course. Scores below the average for age were observed in all SF-36 domains when compared to the Brazilian population, with emphasis on emotional aspects, with Median equal to zero. There was a moderate negative correlation between levels of anxiety, depression and quality of life in terms of social and mental health. A positive correlation was found between female gender (p=0.0148 / p=0.0411), lower family income (p=0.0420 / p=0.0256) and anxiety and depression levels, as well as between public school students and anxiety levels (p=0.0063). The correlation observed in the study reveals the impact of these disorders on the quality of life of these adolescents, directed towards the domains of mental health, social and emotional aspects and vitality. CONCLUSION: Adolescent pre-university college students have lower levels of quality of life. Anxiety and depression negatively influence the quality of life of this population. The highest levels of anxiety and depression were positively correlated with female gender, lower family income and public school background.