IMPACTS OF ACADEMIC PRESSURE ON HEALTH STUDENTS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC SCENARIO

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.1593872317105

• Palavras-chave: Mental health; Health Sciences Students; COVID-19; Quality of life; Student Health.

• Keywords: Mental health; Health Sciences Students; COVID-19; Quality of life; Student Health.

• Abstract:

  INTRODUCTION: Among health students, there is great pressure to seek academic excellence to the detriment of quality of life. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a long isolation followed by the sudden return to greater social coexistence, which strengthened the problem, reflected in the increase in cases of depression and anxiety within universities. This study aims to describe the process and consequences of health science students returning to the academic context after the pandemic. METHODOLOGY: This study is an experience report. To support this, a literature review was carried out on the topic “Mental health among health students in the post-pandemic scenario”, using the PICOS strategy. 10 articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish between 2019 and 2023 were selected, based on relevance. One additional article was selected, resulting in 11 articles. The databases used were Scielo and Virtual Health Library. RESULTS: Reports from students highlighted the social pressures generated by the belief that they must already master medical knowledge, with ignorance at the beginning of training seen as synonymous with future professional inefficiency, in addition to describing a competitive academic space that strengthens self-demand. Many students arrive at the course in good health, but, due to the high demands, they develop mental disorders. Others arrived already weakened by the course entry process. Added to this were the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the well-being of academics, such as distance learning for an indefinite period due to isolation, which generated anxiety and uncertainty regarding the future, causing mental illness. CONCLUSION: The psychosocial consequences left by the Covid-19 pandemic add up to intense self-demand and external pressure for high university productivity. All of this contributes to stress, depression and anxiety, affecting the quality of life of students.