Saúde mental: experiências de estudantes universitários na graduação em psicologia

Abstract

It is known that the experience during the undergraduate journey results in various changes in individuals' lives, ranging from academic aspects to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional factors. The aim of this dissertation is to understand the experiences of psychology students during their undergraduate studies and how these experiences relate to mental health. This study adopts a qualitative, cross-sectional, exploratory approach using the Multiple Case Study method. Three psychology students, positioned between the seventh and eighth semesters of their course, with an average age of 24 years, were interviewed in person. The research instruments comprised: 1) Sociodemographic Data Sheet, 2) Interactive Narrative, and 3) Supplementary Interview. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results indicate that multiple tasks, overload, (self)medication, high performance and demands, interpersonal relationships, support networks, social support, and satisfaction with the choice of course were the most commonly recounted experiences. Revealed a posteriori three categories: 1) 'From choice to sustaining the choice'; 2) 'The psychology course and psychic implications'; 3) 'Teaching hinders learning'. It is concluded that experiences during the undergraduate psychology course are diverse, impacting mental health by fostering protective factors while potentially exacerbating aspects of psychological distress.