Saúde mental e comportamento físico: prevalência de ansiedade, depressão e estresse e sua relação com o nível de atividade física em universitários de Educação Física da UFMA

Abstract

Objective:The present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among undergraduate students in Physical Education at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), and to investigate the association of these symptoms with the levels of physical activity in the sample. Materials and Methods:This is an epidemiological, observational, and cross-sectional study. The target population consisted of undergraduate students in Physical Education at UFMA, with a minimum calculated sample of 225 participants. Data collection employed an electronic questionnaire composed of three validated instruments: Socioeconomic Stratification Questionnaire (ABEP): For economic classification. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ – Short Form): For classification of the level of physical activity. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21): For screening mental health symptoms. Statistical analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. The association between the level of physical activity and the symptoms (DASS-21) was tested using Fisher's Exact Test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The study received ethical approval (CAAE 64678022.9.0000.5087). Results: The final sample consisted of 225 students (138 male and 87 female). An alarming paradox regarding physical activity habits was identified: the prevalence of physical inactivity (sedentary + insufficiently active) was 71.8% in men and 61.6% in women. Regarding mental health, a clear gender disparity was observed, with women presenting significantly higher frequencies and more severe cases of psychological distress, especially in Stress (66.7% general prevalence) and Anxiety (62.1%). Among men, Anxiety was also the predominant symptom (42%), while Stress remained mostly at normal levels. Severe/extreme Depression affected both groups similarly (~17%). Inferential analysis confirmed a statistically significant association ($p<0.05$) between sedentary behavior and worse mental health outcomes, indicating that inactive students exhibit higher anxiety and depression scores. Conclusion: It is concluded that Physical Education students at UFMA experience an academic contradiction, characterized by high rates of sedentary behavior and psychological distress, demystifying the image of these students as inherently active and healthy. The study highlighted distinct vulnerability profiles: men present a greater risk associated with physical inactivity, while women suffer from acute emotional overload (anxiety and stress). The confirmed association between sedentary behavior and poorer mental health outcomes suggests that theoretical training is not ensuring self-care, demanding urgent institutional interventions for psychopedagogical support and the promotion of sports practice within the undergraduate curriculum itself.