Association of anxiety and use of anxiolytics among health-related college students

Mara Dantas Pereira; Míria Dantas Pereira; Michele Fraga de Santana; Joilson Pereira da Silva; João Alves de Moraes Filho; Caique Anizio Santos da Rosa; Paola Fernanda Santos Antunes

doi:10.1590/SciELOPreprints.4563

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Mara Dantas Pereira Universidade Federal de Sergipe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5943-540X
Míria Dantas Pereira Universidade Federal de Sergipe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9774-9717
Michele Fraga de Santana Universidade Tiradentes https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5557-260X
Joilson Pereira da Silva Universidade Federal de Sergipe https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9149-3020
João Alves de Moraes Filho Mato Grosso State University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8466-8865
Caique Anizio Santos da Rosa Universidade Tiradentes https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7507-2629
Paola Fernanda Santos Antunes Universidade Tiradentes https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3031-1179

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.4563

Keywords:

Anti-anxiety agents, Anxiety, College students, Education, higher, Mental health, Anxiety state, Trait anxiety

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the association of anxiety and the use of anxiolytics among college students in the health area. This is a sectional study of the web-survey type, with a sample of 286 college students from some courses in the health area. Data collection occurred through electronic forms in Google forms sent by e-mail and Instagram social network. A higher frequency of clonazepam use (n= 31; 62%; p= 0.588) was associated with high trait anxiety. There was a preponderance of the use of the same drug (n= 30; 60%; p= 0.982) related to moderate state anxiety. These occurrences were more pronounced in female college students (42.3%) and those who attended public institutions (55.3%). Given this, it is concluded that higher education institutions should invest in awareness-raising actions on the use of anxiolytics and aimed at minimizing anxiety in this population.

Portuguese version of the article: https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.4348

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Author Biographies

Mara Dantas Pereira, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Master's student at the Stricto Sensu Graduate Program in Psychology at the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. Researcher at the Group of Studies and Research in Psychology, Education, Health, and Inclusion (GEPPESI/UFS). Researcher at the Teaching, Evaluation, Curriculum and Contemporaneity Research Group (GPDACC/UNIT). Researcher at the Research Group Human Rights and Social Transformation of the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (GPDTS/UNIRIO). Collaborator of the Research Group Education, Culture and Subjectivity (GPECS/UFS). Researcher at the Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity (LABIMH/UNIT).

Míria Dantas Pereira, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

Master's student at the Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Researcher from the research group Nucleus of Epidemiology and Public Health of the Federal University of Sergipe (NESP/UFS).

Michele Fraga de Santana, Universidade Tiradentes

Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil. PhD student in the Post-Graduation Program in Biotechnology Renorbio-SE at UFS. Associate Professor at the Health Department of Tiradentes University (UNIT) in the courses of Medicine, Biomedicine, Nursing and Psychology.

Joilson Pereira da Silva, Universidade Federal de Sergipe

PhD in Psychology from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), with post-doctorate in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain. Professor of the Graduate Program in Psychology at the Federal University of Sergipe (PPGPSI/UFS), São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.

João Alves de Moraes Filho , Mato Grosso State University

PhD in Sports Physical Activity and Health from the University of Valencia, Spain. Master in High Performance Training by the University of Porto, Portugal. Professor at the Physical Education Department of the Mato Grosso State University (UNEMAT), Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Caique Anizio Santos da Rosa , Universidade Tiradentes

Bachelor in Nursing from the Tiradentes University (UNIT), Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Post-graduate student in Nursing in Cardiology and Hemodynamics, also from UNIT. Researcher at the Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity (LABIMH/UNIT/UNIRIO/CNPQ). Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Group for Critical Care Studies at the Federal University of Sergipe (GIESCC/UFS/CNPQ). Researcher from the Research Group in Technologies, Teaching and Nursing Care from the Federal University of Piauí (GPTECE/UFPI/CNPQ).

Paola Fernanda Santos Antunes, Universidade Tiradentes

Bachelor in Nursing from the Tiradentes University, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Researcher Working Group and Research Exercise and HIV/AIDS (GTPEHA), linked to the Laboratory of Biosciences of Human Motricity (LABIMH/UNIRIO/CNPQ).