Associação entre atividade física, sono e esgotamento mental

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the relationship between physical activity, sleep quality, and symptoms of mental exhaustion among students at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL). Based on previous studies, it is highlighted that physical activity promotes improvements in mental health and sleep quality, while poor sleep quality and mental exhaustion negatively impact academic performance and well-being. This research adopts a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach, using a sample of 259 UFAL students. Data were collected through structured questionnaires applied through interviews, which integrated the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), the Insomnia Severity Index (IGI), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-SS). Data analysis was performed using the chisquare test for independent samples to verify associations between categorical variables. The results indicate that physically active students have a lower prevalence of insomnia symptoms and a lower prevalence of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization compared to insufficiently active students. However, no significant association was found between personal fulfillment and the level of physical activity. This finding indicates that, although physical activity positively influences sleep and some symptoms of mental exhaustion, it is not a crucial element in students' personal fulfillment. This highlights the importance of investigating other contextual elements and additional interventions that can improve general well-being and individual satisfaction. Thus, it is concluded that the promotion of programs that integrate physical activity with psychological support and academic mentoring can enhance the benefits for students' mental health.