Resumo:
The process of training healthcare professionals, especially in dentistry, has characteristics
that impact the mental health and quality of life (QoL) of these students. This study aims to
analyze the mental health and quality of life of dental students. The dissertation is composed
of two articles. The first is an integrative review that investigates the prevalence of common
mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, among dental students and the
main associated factors. The second article is an empirical, cross-sectional study conducted
with 111 dental students at a public university in Bahia, with the objective of evaluating the
association between anxiety and quality of life, in addition to investigating the relationship with
sociodemographic, health, and academic characteristics. The mixed-method (qualitative quantitative) research used the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the WHOQOL-BREF. The
qualitative part explored the difficulties of the course and the future concerns of the students,
especially those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The review study revealed high levels
of depression, anxiety, and stress among dental students in various countries around the world,
which were accentuated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The highest prevalences were found
in studies in Turkey (82.1%, 79.6%, 72.9%), Brazil (64.2%, 67.5%, 61.7%), Portugal (63.3%,
59%, 77.3%), and Malaysia (60.6%, 66.8%, 50.4%). The empirical study, in turn, revealed an
anxiety prevalence of 39.64%. Independent predictors found were the presence of physical
symptoms related to anxiety during the course (sweating, tachycardia, and shortness of
breath), which increased the chance of anxiety by approximately three times (OR = 3.35; p =
0.001), and the psychological domain of the WHOQOL-BREF, which acted as a protective
factor, reducing the probability of anxiety (OR = 0.93; p = 0.028). The qualitative analysis
demonstrated that an extensive course load, activity overload, lack of time, and financial issues
are the most frequently reported difficulties. Among future concerns, students reported a fear
of not being prepared for the job market and the vulnerability of the dentist in a pandemic
scenario. This study contributes to deepening knowledge about the mental health and well being of dental students, offering important support for the development of support policie
