Impacts of the Covid-19 andemic on higher education students in Bahia / Impactos da pandemia do Covid-19 nos estudantes de ensino superior na Bahia

Abstract

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to assess how a COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the mental health of students in higher education in Bahia and to check for the presence of anxious and depressive symptoms through a questionnaire. Students were adapted virtually to respond anonymously about sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, health-related aspects and a pandemic. To assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was used. The data were trained in SPSS. In total, 1,213 students were acquired. Most altered their health behavior with worsening sleep quality, increased use of medication to sleep, decreased frequency of physical activities. Anxious and depressive symptoms were present in 66.1% and 54.4% of undergraduate and graduate students, respectively, associated with social isolation, uncertainty about the future, difficulties in family relationships, financial loss, fear of being infected and of being infected. other people and loss of a family member due to COVID - 19. In view of the evidence of psychological distress, it is necessary to develop measures so that students can adopt more positive behaviors and reduce much of the impacts left by this pandemic.