Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
https://trends.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/2237-6089-2017-0070
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Original Article

Subjective well-being, religiosity and anxiety: a cross-sectional study applied to a sample of Brazilian medical students

Bem-estar subjetivo, religiosidade e ansiedade: um estudo transversal em uma amostra brasileira de estudantes de medicina

Leonardo Machado; Camila Twany Nunes de Souza; Rosália de Oliveira Nunes; Camila Novaes de Santana; Camila Farias de Araujo; Amaury Cantilino

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/2237-6089-2017-0070 Trends Psychiatry Psychother, vol.40, n3, p.185-192, 2018
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Abstract

Abstract Objective: To assess associations between subjective well-being (SWB), religiosity, anxiety and other factors in a sample of Brazilian medical students from a public university in northeastern Brazil. Methods: The present study followed a cross-sectional, observational, analytical approach. Data were collected by administering a self-applicable questionnaire composed of questions focused on sociodemographic data and based on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWL), Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), and the Duke Religiosity Index (DUREL). Results: The sample comprised 417 medical school students (73.54% of all the enrolled students). The medical students assessed presented a medium level of satisfaction with life, low mean positive emotion levels and high anxiety/uneasiness levels. Surprisingly, lower anxiety and intrinsic religiosity (IR) scores were associated with higher scores in the two SWB parameters (positive emotions and satisfaction with life). Furthermore, the factors leisure activities, good sleep quality, financial support, age, and gender were associated with the highest SWB scores (with emotional and cognitive components, or with only one of these two components). Conclusions: Data in the current study corroborated the negative association between SWB and anxiety; however, in opposition to the literature, they also evidenced a negative association between SWB and IR. In addition, the present research signaled the need for creating preventive intervention programs to increase SWB through positive psychological techniques and/or to decrease anxiety by applying, for instance, cognitive-behavioral therapy paradigms and/or mindfulness techniques to medical students.

Keywords

Medical students, anxiety, medical psychology, happiness, spirituality

Resumo

Resumo Objetivos: Avaliar associações entre bem-estar subjetivo (BES), religiosidade, ansiedade e outros fatores em uma amostra de estudantes brasileiros de medicina de uma universidade pública do nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: O presente estudo seguiu uma abordagem transversal, observacional, analítica. Os dados foram coletados por meio da aplicação de um questionário autoaplicável incluindo questões focadas em dados sociodemográficos e baseado na Escala de Satisfação com a Vida (SWL), Escala de Afeto Positivo e Afeto Negativo (PANAS), Questionário de Preocupação da Pensilvânia (PSWQ) e Índice de Religiosidade de DUKE (DUREL). Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 417 estudantes de medicina (73,54% de todos os alunos matriculados). Os estudantes avaliados apresentaram nível médio de satisfação com a vida, baixos níveis de emoções positivas e altos níveis de ansiedade/preocupação. Surpreendentemente, menor ansiedade e escores de religiosidade intrínseca (IR) foram associados com maiores pontuações nos dois parâmetros de BES (emoções positivas e satisfação com a vida). Além disso, os fatores atividades de lazer, boa qualidade do sono, apoio financeiro, idade e sexo foram associados aos maiores escores do BES (com componentes emocionais e cognitivos, ou apenas um deles). Conclusão: Os dados do presente estudo corroboraram a associação negativa entre BES e ansiedade; no entanto, contrariamente à literatura, eles também evidenciaram uma associação negativa entre BES e IR. Além disso, a presente pesquisa sinalizou a necessidade de criar programas de intervenção preventiva para aumentar o BES por meio de técnicas psicológicas positivas e/ou diminuir a ansiedade aplicando, por exemplo, paradigmas de terapia cognitivo-comportamental e/ou técnicas de mindfulness a estudantes de medicina.

Palavras-chave

Estudantes de medicina, ansiedade, psicologia médica, felicidade, espiritualidade

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