Mental Health and Quality Sleep among Brazilian Medical Students during Covid-19 Pandemic: Prevalence and Associated Factors

Aims: Due the pandemic of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), stricter measures to limit unessential interactions were adopted, including the suspension of classroom lessons and the implementation of the distance learning regime. As these restrictions change lifestyles, this study aimed to assess the impacts of social distancing on mental health and sleep quality in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Medical school in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Data collection took place from June 1 to July 1, 2020.

Methodology: This study used self-administered questionnaires answered by students from a Public University in Brazil. The collection instrument consisted of four parts: socioeconomic variables, self-perception of health, Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Absolute and relative frequencies described the sample, Chi-square test and Student’s t-test tested associations between the variables, Pearson’s correlation tested the relationship between PSQI and SRQ-20.

Results: Of the 210 participants, 138 students (65.7%) had scores suggestive of mental distress by the SRQ-20; women had a higher risk when compared to men (women 67.7% vs. men 49%, p < .01). 186 students (88.6%) had poor sleep quality according to the PSQI; women also had higher sleep disturbance (women 1.26 ± 0.06 vs. men 1.35 ± 0.04, p < .05). Mental distress measures were positively correlated with sleep quality (r = 0.611, p < .001).

Conclusion: The strict preventive measures, and the radical changes in the lifestyle of medical students had a negative impact on the quality of their sleep and mental state. The students showed high levels of mental distress and poor sleep quality, and women appear to be an important risk factor. Implementation of interventions for well-being in pandemic condition by universities, and special focus to the most affected groups (such as women), should be stimulated.