Teaching and mental health in medical students.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between quality of life, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in medical students and the university teaching method: traditional method versus active methodology. METHODS: Four questionnaires were administered to volunteer students (n=361) enrolled in two institutions that employ active (Universidade Tiradentes) or traditional (Faculdade de Medicina do ABC) teaching methodology: socioeconomic level; brief quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref); perceived stress scale (PSS10); and depression and anxiety scale (hospital anxiety and depression scale). RESULTS: Of the students who responded to the questionnaires (226 UNIT and 135 FMABC), 70% were female and 67% were White. The majority did not use medication for depression (90%), anxiety (81%), and stress management (91%). Regarding anxiety, it was found: absence in the traditional method and moderate anxiety in the active methodology (26% UNIT×13% FMABC) (p<0.001). Regarding quality of life, it was found to be better quality of life in the environment domain at FMABC (78.12%) versus 71.88% at the UNIT (p<0.001). There was no difference between the institutions in relation to depression and perceived stress, and in quality of lifethere was only a difference in the environmental domain (p<0.001). In relation to gender, stress was higher in females (93.7%) than males (79.6%) with p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Differences were recorded between the groups regarding anxiety, with a predominance in UNIT students (active methodology), and no differences were recorded in relation to depression, perceived stress, and quality of life in all domains, except for the environment domain, which was higher in the traditional methodology, although about one-third of participants used medication for anxiety/depression.

The Association between Physical Activity and Anxiety in Aging: A Comparative Analysis.

(1) Background: As the worldwide aging population is growing, there is a need to embrace the role of physical activity in the anxiety of older people. Objectives: To analyze anxiety in older people practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activity; (2) Methods: ample composed of 690 older people of both genders, unselected volunteers, residing in Brazil, present (as participants or observers) in selected street races in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 30 October 2019, and 12 March 2020. An instrument composed of the sociodemographic questionnaire and questions from the Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI, and the Physical Activity Inventory for older people, Baecke-Old. Design: Ex-post-facto observational analytical descriptive research; (3) Results: The average age of the sample was in the range of 65 to 69y, 74% female, 94% completed high school, 69% living with the family, 84% practicing physical activity. Anxiety levels were 26% (without), 35% (mild), 21% (moderate), and 18% (severe). The comparison of anxiety showed a difference between the groups of active and sedentary elderly. Logistic regression analysis considering anxiety (yes or no; dichotomous variable) and physical activity (yes or no; dichotomous variable) and Odds Ratio were performed to identify possible influences of the independent variables PA, gender, marital status, and education on anxiety. Only physical activity was associated with anxiety. (4) Conclusions: The sample data of this research point to the conclusion that physical activity influences anxiety levels with 98% certainty, and it is suggested that it be enriched in the future with different studies with different designs. The older people practitioners of physical activity with a high level of education presented as 26% without, 35% mild, 21% moderate, and 18% severe anxiety. More active individuals are less likely to develop anxiety.

Impact of Physical Activity on Anxiety, Depression, Stress and Quality of Life of the Older People in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Population aging all over the world invites older people to be active, considering physical activity (PA) as associated with reduced anxiety, depression and stress and a high quality of life (QOL) in older people. OBJECTIVE: To analyze anxiety, depression, stress and QOL as a function of PA in older people. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive analytical research. Six hundred and ninety older people answered the instrument composed of sociodemographic questions, followed by questions from the WHOQOL-Old, Baecke-Old, WHOQOL-SRPB, Stress Perception Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: The beneficial effect of PA on the elderly is evident in this sample with such a high QoL (73%) and such a high level of physical activity (84%), and even with an advanced level of education (75%) and high spirituality (99.6%). The influence of PA on the anxiety and stress cluster showed Pearson's chi-square = 9.9, DF = 4, p = 0.04239, critical value = 9.5. The influence of PA on the anxiety, depression and stress cluster showed Pearson's chi-square = 6.8; DF = 5; p-value = 0.24; critical value = 11.1. CONCLUSION: In the elderly, PA has a significant relationship with anxiety, stress and QOL. In addition, the high level of QOL of the elderly in the sample demonstrates the capacity for PA, educational level and spirituality for personal satisfaction.