Qualidade do sono e saúde mental em acadêmicos de medicina: um estudo transversal

Abstract

Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety as well as sleep disorders are very prevalent among medical students. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between sleep quality and mental health in this population. This is a cross-sectional study, performed with medical students from Cesumar University. A virtual survey was conducted using the Google Forms platform, and students were approached through e-mail and WhatsApp institutional groups. The assessment instruments used were the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). A binomial logistic regression analysis with univariate and multivariate models was performed, keeping sleep quality as the independent variable of interest, and the three constructs of DASS-21 (depression, anxiety and stress) as dependent variables, each one analyzed separately. Study sample was composed of 155 individuals. Univariate analysis showed significantly associations between poor sleep quality and depression (OR = 3,06; IC95% 1,46-6,39), anxiety (OR = 6,82; IC95% 2,92-15,91) and stress (OR = 4,27; IC95% 1,98-9,22). In multivariate models adjusted for the constructs of DASS-2, only anxiety kept significantly association (OR = 5,01; IC95% 1,56-16,05), independent of depression and stress. This study showed significantly associations between poor sleep quality and symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress among medical students, however, the associations between depression and stress seem to have a confounding effect of the other disorders concomitant presence.