Brazilian University Students Research Articles

Association between social capital indicators and depressive symptoms among Brazilian university students

The study aimed to investigate the association between social capital indicators and depressive symptoms among university students from Brazil. The study drew on a sample of 579 randomly selected university students, from a greater crossnational study conducted in 2018. Students completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing depressive symptoms, indicators of social capital and lifestyle behaviors. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Indicators of social capital included trust, group membership and frequency of meeting friends. Four social capital indicators were significantly associated with clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Students who agreed that people are likely to take advantage of one another were more likely to report depressive clinically relevant symptoms (OR: 1.80, 95%CI: 1.00 - 3.23) as well as students who agreed that people are not willing to help in case needed (OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.02 - 4.36). Perceived stress, smoking and hazardous alcohol consumption were not associated with clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Social capital plays an important role in explaining depressive symptoms among Brazilian university students. The study suggests that creating trust and enhancing participation in social networks can be an important strategy for promoting mental health among university students investigated in this study.

Can personality traits influence Brazilian university students' financial literacy?

PurposeThe objective of the present study is to assess the financial literacy levels of students at a Brazilian university and investigate how these levels are affected by profile characteristics and personality traits.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using SurveyMonkey, and a link to the questionnaire was sent by e-mail. The questionnaire contains three blocks of questions: demographics, financial literacy and personality traits. Ordered logistic regression was applied to a sample of 1,312 students.FindingsYounger participants, those with higher incomes and men were more likely to have a high level of financial literacy. The same was true of those who were less extrovert, i.e. assertive, sociable, optimistic and communicative students. These results contribute to the field by indicating which population segments should be prioritized in efforts to promote financial literacy.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, no study has compared Financial Literacy and Personality Traits in Brazil, a developing country that is only beginning to develop national financial literacy strategies.

Key characteristics including sex, sexual orientation and internet use associated with worse mental health among university students in Brazil and implications.

The symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders are multifactorial and can trigger a series of problems especially among university students. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors with anxiety and depression symptoms among first-semester university students at a Federal University in Brazil given the paucity of such data and the first semester is the most stressfultime. Cross-sectional study with first-semester university students. The questionnaire included socio-demographic variables, lifestyles, health conditions and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by bivariate analysis and Poisson regression analysis. Three hundred and fifty-six students (65.2%) across a range of courses in their first semester participated. The prevalence of anxiety was 42.5% and depression 33.2%. Regarding symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders, a positive association was observed among females, non-heterosexual, non-white skin color, excessive internet use, lack of physical activity, not attending university parties, having psychological counseling, history of anxiety in first- or second-degree relatives, poor self-rated health and use of psychotropic medicines. Due to the high prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, the importance of developing programs to promote mental and physical health of university students is highlighted.

Prevalence of food addiction and its association with anxiety, depression, and adherence to social distancing measures in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide study.

The study’s objective was to determine the prevalence of food addiction (FA) in Brazilian university students and to verify whether there is an association with anxiety, depression, and adherence to the social distancing measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a nationwide cross-sectional study carried out through the application of online questionnaires. Self-reported data on age, sex, economic class, race/skin color, anthropometric data, depression diagnosis, anxiety, modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. 5368 participants were included, with a mean age was 24.1 ± 6.3 years, the majority were female (n = 3990; 74.3%), and the mean BMI in our sample was 24.5 ± 5.3 kg/m2. The prevalence of FA was 19.1% (95%CI: 18.0; 20.0%). An association was observed between FA with depression (PR: 1.60; 95%CI: 1.43; 1.78; p < 0.01), and anxiety (3.13; 95%CI: 2.74; 3.58; p < 0.01), but not with adherence to social distancing measures (p = 0.70). In conclusion, there was a higher prevalence of FA in Brazilian university students. Besides, university students with anxiety, depression, overweight, or obesity and females are more prone to FA.Level of evidence Level V, Opinions of authorities, based on descriptive studies, narrative reviews, clinical experience, or reports of expert committees.

Quality assessment of Brazilian fast-food business services

This paper aims to measure the quality of service provided by fast-food companies from the Brazilian university students' perspectives. A questionnaire was conducted based on ServQual, and a five-point Likert scale was used to assess the expectations and perceptions of the items analysed. Multivariate analyses were applied to treat redundant items, eliminate those that briefly explain the data variability, and determine new categorisations. As a result, it was noticed that expectations were not met on any dimensions or items. The reliability and tangibility dimensions obtained the worst performance and need special attention since they can mostly negatively impact customer loyalty and overall satisfaction. The terms 'fast order delivery', 'quick table cleaning' and 'efficient supplying' were the worst assessed within these dimensions and might require more improvements. After the multivariate analyses, the proposed conceptual model remained with three previous dimensions (empathy, responsiveness, and reliability), and three new dimensions emerged (convenience, aesthetics, and assurance). This work contributes to the literature by identifying the most critical aspects and items and the integration of ServQual and multivariate analyses to treat and reorganise the items and dimensions of quality in fast-food services.

Factors associated with the perception of fear of COVID-19 in university students.

to analyze the factors associated with the perception of fear of COVID-19 in Brazilian university students. this is an online, cross-sectional analytical study conducted at a Brazilian public university with 1,437 undergraduate students between September and November 2020. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale was used to measure the main construct. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test, Cohen's r test and multiple linear regression analysis. factors associated with fear of COVID-19 in university students were the variables biological sex, perception of good sleep quality, many days of access to information, not complying with social distancing, reporting sufficient hours of sleep, not having a partner, guidance sexual non-heterosexual, being in the risk group for COVID-19 and tobacco consumption. the study findings can contribute to the discussion about the weaknesses that the university population is experiencing in this pandemic period.

Need-based Grants in the Developing World: The Impact of the Universidade para Todos (ProUni) Program on Educational Outcomes of Brazilian College Students

Need-based Grants in the Developing World: The Impact of the Universidade para Todos (ProUni) Program on Educational Outcomes of Brazilian College Students

Association between COVID-19 diagnosis and economic class, race/skin color and social distancing in Brazilian university students

Purpose: To determine the association between diagnosis of COVID-19 and the economic class, race/skin color, and adherence to social distancing in Brazilian university students. Methods: This is a nationwide cross-sectional study carried out with online questionnaires applied to Brazilian university students, at 94 universities in the public and private education network. Self-reported age, sex, economic class data, race/skin color, COVID-19 diagnosis, and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. Results: 5,984 individuals were evaluated. No significant association was found between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and economic class and race/skin color in the multivariable analysis. However, we observed that there were significant associations between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and partial adherence to social distancing, with leaving home only for going to work (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10–1.66; p &lt; 0.01) and with non-adherence to social distancing (PR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.29–2.97; p &lt;0.01). Conclusion: The diagnosis of COVID-19 was associated with age, non-adherence and partial adherence to social distancing measures in Brazilian university students, but was not associated with race/skin color and economic class.

Experiences of Motherhood in University Students in Brazil: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: The women’s rise to higher education contrasts with the phenomenon of motherhood, since it instigates changes in various contexts, whether physiological or emotional, and directly affects the way of life and routine of those women, resulting in a constant conflict between motherhood and academic career. In this sense, the student has to restructure responsibilities and behaviors, as well as requires family support and laws that support her in this period. Objectives: To describe the experiences of motherhood in university students, and to identify the strategies developed by university students to adapt motherhood with academic routine. Methods: This is a descriptive, exploratory and qualitative research carried out in a private University Center in Brazil. The participants were ten Nursing undergraduate students, regularly enrolled and who experienced motherhood during the academic term. Data were collected during August and September 2019, through a recorded interview using a semi-structured form. For the treatment and analysis of the data, the Collective Subject Discourse was used. The study followed the ethical precepts and was approved by the ethics committee (opinion n. 3.419.572). Results: The participants’ discourses gave rise to four central ideas: Feelings experienced from the discovery of pregnancy; The discovery of pregnancy and the decision to continue the course; Support relationships as a decisive factor for the non-abandonment of the course and Strategies to reconcile motherhood with academic routine. The main key expressions identified in the discourses were: joy, fear, insecurity, anguish, concern, distress, anger, sadness, interrupting, giving up, taking time off from the course, not taking time off from the course, family support, support from friends, support from the institution, adjusting schedules, studying while my child sleeps, family help, taking the baby to college, storing milk while breastfeeding. Conclusion: The analysis of the discourses revealed that the experience of motherhood in the university sphere is marked by a combination of different feelings, and by an important process of adaptations to the new moment, since there is a reflection and indecision about the continuity of the academic trajectory. The reports also highlight the importance of family, institutional and friend support, such as a support network of incentive to the care with the child, as well as the use of strategies to reconcile academic routine with motherhood.

Brazilian Cooking Skills Questionnaire evaluation of using/cooking and consumption of fruits and vegetables

ObjectiveYoung adults are often faced with barriers to cooking their own food. These barriers are associated with poor diet. The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure of the Brazilian Cooking Skills and Healthy Eating Questionnaire (BCSQ) to identify the barriers to cooking, use, and consumption of fruits and vegetables by young adults. MethodsData were collected from a baseline study with Brazilian university students (N = 767). Forty-eight items from the BCSQ (composed of the following scales: Cooking Attitude, Cooking Behavior, Produce Consumption Self-Efficacy, Cooking Self-Efficacy, Self-Efficacy in Using Cooking Techniques, and Self-Efficacy in Using Fruits, Vegetables, and Seasonings) were submitted to exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (ten fit indexes), and internal consistency reliability evaluation. Multilevel linear regression models were used to analyze variations on the BCSQ dimensions by sex, living arrangements, knowledge of how to cook, location of main meal, and time available for cooking. ResultsThe 20-item BCSQ showed good fit indexes. The items based on negative cooking attitudes, frequency of using leftovers, and self-efficacy related to cooking from scratch, using and eating fruits and vegetables were adequate for the evaluation of cooking skills. These items represent and reflect the health dimensions applied to this research. The self-efficacy in using cooking techniques, which was not validated in previous study scale, was excluded due to its dimension. ConclusionsThese results enabled us to shorten the BCSQ, which can be used to evaluate the barriers to cooking among young adults, as well as measuring their healthy eating practices, supporting future research and programs.

Effects of choral singing on salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress in university students

Although mental disorders are common among university students, the majority of students with mental health issues do not seek out treatment during their academic life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group approach- choir singing, and its potential impact on stress, via salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress levels in university students during 4 sessions of choir singing. It was based on a quasi-experimental research conducted with 25 Brazilian university students. Each choir singing session lasted 60 minutes. A question was asked before and after the intervention: what is the level of your stress? Salivary cortisol was collected before and after the intervention. After the choir singing intervention, there was a statistically significant reduction in self-reported stress (p&lt;0.0001) and salivary cortisol levels (p&lt;0.0001). This research suggests that choir singing can reduce the self-reported stress of university students after 4 weeks of follow-up with ∆= 45.83% and salivary cortisol levels in the first week with ∆= 3.57%.

Os elementos antecedentes do endividamento e a satisfação com a vida

Studies show that times of crisis often result in major changes in society. From this perspective, when observing consumer behavior in the search for understanding and analyzing consumer indebtedness, it was necessary to take into account the individual elements (hedonism, theory of planned behavior, impulsiveness, financial factors, and materialism) that are presented in several studies explained here, as antecedents to indebtedness. In addition, the research also seeks to verify the possible impact of indebtedness on the life satisfaction of young Brazilian university students. Thus, an explanatory model was created and tested. Using a descriptive approach, a questionnaire was developed in the Google Forms tool. At the end of the survey which was carried out between August and November 2020 through dissemination in social media, a sample of 350 elements was obtained. Data analysis was performed using multivariate statistical techniques. The conclusion was that the level of knowledge and financial skills negatively impacts a person's debt potential and influences a more conscious attitude towards the use of credit, leading to smaller and short-term debt. It was also concluded that the level of concern about debt impacts satisfaction with one's own life.

Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predictors and association with life satisfaction, psychological well-being and coping strategies.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic raises concerns about the mental health of the world population. Protection measures to prevention the disease impacted education and undergraduate students were exposed to additional stressors.ObjectivesAnalyze depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in undergraduates, their respective predictors and the association with satisfaction with life, psychological well-being and coping strategies.MethodsAn online cross-sectional study was conducted from September 14 to October 19, 2020, involving undergraduate students enrolled in 33 courses from 5 public university campuses in the state of Parana, Brazil, using: questionnaire with sociodemographic, academic, health and pandemic effects variables; Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS); Psychological Well-Being (PWB); BriefCOPE. The convenience sample was composed of 1,224 participants, with 18 years old or older, that completed all research instruments. Spearman correlation and logistic analysis (univariate and multivariate) were applied to the collected data.ResultsMost of the undergraduates presented symptoms of depression (60.5%), anxiety (52.5%) and stress (57.5%). Depression, anxiety and stress presented significant correlations in common: negative with satisfaction with life, all dimensions of psychological well-being, and 3 adaptive copings (active coping, planning, positive reframing); positive with 5 maladaptive copings (behavioral disengagement, denial, self-blame, self-distraction, substance use). In addition, there were 7 common predictors for symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress: female; age 18–24 years old; having a chronic disease; lower scores in 2 dimensions of psychological well-being (positive relations with others, self-acceptance); higher scores in 2 maladaptive copings (self-blame, substance use).ConclusionsThe data indicate a high prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, and suggest that higher scores of satisfaction with life, psychological well-being dimensions and adaptive copings may present protective effects in undergraduates during a pandemic crisis.

Conceptions about the Use of Cannabis among Medical Students from Public Universities.

BackgroundSubstance abuse is a public health concern given its high prevalence worldwide. The early onset of such abuse predicts greater severity of addiction, morbidity, and use of multiple drugs. The use of psychoactive substances among Brazilian university students is frequent and cannabis stands out as the most consumed illicit drug. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cannabis use among medical students from public universities in the state of São Paulo, correlating it with socioeconomic data, perceptions, and conceptions about use, triggering factors and possible implications in academic performance.MethodsThe data were collected using an anonymous online survey, which was sent to students attending public medical universities in the state of São Paulo in the year 2020.FindingsThe survey was answered by 225 participants. Among all participants, 147 (65.3%) reported at least one episode of cannabis use during their study in university. 91 (61.9%) reported the first use before entering university, while 56 (38.1%) used it for the first time during the university years. The frequent group included 41 (27.9%) people and the sporadic group included 106 (72.1%) people.ConclusionThe present study indicated that the medical students in public universities in the state of São Paulo have higher cannabis use rates compared to the general Brazilian population and to other medical students worldwide. The users are aware of the possible damages caused by cannabis use, but this does not stop them from smoking.

Brazilian Loneliness Scale: Evidence of Validity Based on Relations to Depression, Anxiety and Stress

Abstract This paper aimed mainly to investigate the relationships between Brazilian Loneliness Scale (UCLA-BR) and the levels of depression, anxiety and stress in Brazilian college students. These concepts were assessed using validated scales (Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ-9, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - DASS-21, Beck Anxiety Inventory - BAI and Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory - ISSL). A total of 325 college students participated and responded all the instruments. Descriptive, correlational and group differences analyzes were conducted. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress varied depending on the instrument used. UCLA-BR presented evidence of validity based on relationships with depression, anxiety and stress, especially depression (assessed by DASS-21). Analysis of measurement scales can help to understand aspects of college students’ mental health.

Assertive skills: a comparison of two group interventions with Brazilian university students

The improvement or acquisition of socioemotional skills contributes to the academic and personal adaptation of university students. The way students think about themselves and others influence their social skills and well-being. Considering the importance of social competence for professional practice in the face of new social realities, the university must invest in programs that promote the socio-emotional development of students. This study compared the effects of interventions based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Psychoeducation on assertive skills and subjective well-being. This study involved 25 undergraduate students of a public university. The students were randomly allocated to three groups, including the Control group, and they were evaluated by means of questionnaires, inventories, scales, and written evaluation of the group process. The program consisted of 10 meetings and a 6-week follow-up. Irrational beliefs were reduced and their assertive skills’ scores increased in the post-intervention and follow-up evaluations, regardless of the group. Only verbal reports from participants indicated an increase in well-being. The students’ written reports after the end of the meetings indicate that the two forms of intervention were evaluated as promoting change by the students. One of the limitations of the study is the size of the groups. Despite the very small sample size, the study highlights that developing a set of flexible beliefs is fundamental to the exercise of assertiveness.

Racial Differences in Generalized Anxiety Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic among Brazilian University Students: a National Survey.

There is evidence that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in anxiety and depression rates among college students. However, little is known about how generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) developed among individuals of different race/skin color. This study aimed to determine whether there are racial differences in GAD in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a nationwide cross-sectional study, carried out through the application of online questionnaires to university students from 94 Brazilian universities. Self-reported data on age, sex, economic class, race/skin color, anthropometric data, and adherence to social distancing measures were collected. To determine the GAD, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale was applied. A total of 5879 participants were included, with a mean age of 24.1 ± 6.4 years, and the majority were female (n = 4324, 73.5%), most self-declared to be whites (n = 2945, 50.1%), followed by browns (n = 2185, 37.2%) and blacks (n = 749, 12.7%). The prevalence of GAD among black Brazilian university students (47.3% [95% CI 43.7, 50.8]) was significantly higher than that of browns (38.6% [95% CI 36.6, 40.7]) and whites (44.1% [95% CI 42.3, 45.9]), even after multivariable adjustment by other sociodemographic factors. The findings of the present study suggest a possible racial difference in GAD among Brazilian university students, in which those who declared their race/skin color as black showed a greater risk for GAD than those who declared themselves as white or brown.

Quality of life, physical activity and burnout syndrome during online learning period in Brazilian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cluster analysis

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic caused several changes in the teaching-learning process, as it abruptly replaced the conventional classes into online classes despite social distancing requirements. Such changes may be associated with several mental health problems and negatively affect the quality of life and academic performance of university students. We performed a cluster analysis in a large sample of Brazilian undergraduate students, considering sociodemographic data, physical activity frequency, study areas, Burnout Syndrome (BS), Quality of Life (QoL) and perception of online learning (OL) during COVID-19 pandemic. Seven hundred and three students (between 17 and 62 years, from 67 higher education institutions) participated in the study. We identified three different profiles of students regarding psychological aspects and OL perception. The first profile, called as the ‘Low QoL’ group was composed of younger students, mainly females, with higher frequency of psychological disorders (as evidenced by the self-report of depression and/or anxiety), in addition to higher Burnout scores, lower QoL and worse OL perception. The second profile called ‘Intermediate QoL’ comprised participants with an average age of 45 years, with a greater number of men, married, with kids and working in addition to studying. They presented better OL scores than the ‘Low QoL’ group. The third profile called ‘Better QoL’ comprised students with higher scores in all domains of QoL and better OL perception, with greater frequency of physical activity and lower BS scores. Students from Health courses showed higher scores for general QoL, and also for the psychological and environmental domains in relation to the other areas. Besides, students of the Exact Sciences courses showed higher scores on all OL perception items in comparison to the other courses. Our results provide insights regarding the mental health profile of undergraduate students, allowing educational managers to outline specific coping strategies to assist students during the pandemic.

Entrepreneurship in social: Brazilian university students toward a career with purpose

Purpose Social entrepreneurship (SE) presents specificities that the entrepreneur must address. Entrepreneurial intention (EI) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in SE should reflect specific characteristics of behavior. The purpose of this study is to identify the intention of Brazilian university students to undertake SE, having individual social EO (individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO)-social) as their predictive behavior. Design/methodology/approach This paper collected study data from Brazilian university students. To test the study’s hypotheses, this paper used confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation model, partial least squares and generalized linear regression model. Findings The results indicate that Brazilian university students positively respond to their intention to become social entrepreneurs in the future, regardless of gender, courses or types of universities. In line with the literature, IEO-Social proved to be a strong predictor of EI-social. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to understanding EI-social from IEO-Social. Besides, its sample is non-probabilistic, therefore, the findings of this study cannot be generalized. Practical implications The results encourage the inclusion of SE in entrepreneurial education programs. They guide the involvement of students from different areas of knowledge in activities aimed at higher education. Social implications Evidence indicates that including the SE theme in entrepreneurial education programs proves to be valuable for opening purposeful career opportunities for students. Originality/value The study contributes to eliminating the gap in studies on EI-social in Brazilian university students. It also offers the IEO-social scale, theoretically constructed and with superior psychometric quality.

Satisfaction with Self and External Regulation of Learning in Higher Education Students in Brazil.

The satisfaction of university students with the variables that regulate their learning provides very valuable information to improve the quality of teaching processes. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the learning of Brazilian university students, exploring both self-regulation variables, such as study techniques; and more external regulation variables, namely, satisfaction with the teaching–learning process and with the infrastructure, based on three variables: gender, the institution of higher education and the academic year of the students. To achieve this, 560 students of the Pedagogy degree were evaluated with two questionnaires: a questionnaire of satisfaction with the educational infrastructure and the teaching–learning process and a questionnaire on study techniques. Statistically significant differences were obtained, especially depending on the type of institution and the academic year. The students of private schools and earlier academic years were the ones who obtained the most satisfaction with the study techniques and with the infrastructure. Those from private centers also expressed more satisfaction with the teaching–learning processes. These results provide greater knowledge about the processes of self-regulation and external regulation of university learning and of their satisfaction with them, which can contribute to improving educational policies in Brazil.