Qualification of postgraduate programs in Dentistry on the perceived stress and QoL of faculty members and students

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare the perceived stress and quality of life (QoL) between Brazilian graduate students and faculty members and to evaluate the influence of the CAPES qualification grade on these outcomes. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to faculty members and students of the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) accredited institutions in Brazil. A total of 348 faculty members and 707 students answered the questionnaires, from all parts of the country. Students had fewer hours of sleep and presented lower scores (p<0.05) in the four domains of the QoL (physical, psychological, social, and environment) when compared to faculty members, also higher PSS scores (p<0.05). When the students were compared between them, students from CAPES grade, 3 programs presented the highest perceived PSS scores and CAPES grade 7 programs presented the lowest. For the QoL results CAPES grades 3 and 6 programs students reported the lower scores and grade 7 the highest. Faculty members working in CAPES grade 6 programs reported the highest PSS scores. As for the QoL results, faculty members of CAPES recognized grade 5 programs reported the lowest scores in three domains: Social, physical, and psychological, while grade 7 faculty members reported the highest in the four domains. This study showed that students had higher levels of PSS and lower QoL and there was a difference in these outcomes considering the CAPES qualification grade mainly among students.