LEISURE AND MENTAL HEALTH

CHALLENGES FOR STUDENTS OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEGREE COURSE AT THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF RIO GRANDE DO NORTE – UFRN

Abstract

Currently, there is an increasing frequency of the so-called Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in the world population. The highest incidence of CMD occurs during the transition period to adulthood. Physical activities/body practices are known for their positive effects on the quality of life and also on the well-being of those who practice them. Leisure can be classified into five “cultural interests”: physical, artistic, manual, intellectual and social leisure, and to this classification can be added tourist leisure and virtual leisure. Despite this increase in cases of CMD, there are still few studies that associate the themes of mental health and undergraduate students in the health area, and even fewer with Physical Education students. Thus, this study aims to analyze the relationship between mental health and the academic routine of students in the Physical Education degree course at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Data collection from the study population was performed using a sociodemographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) and processed using a statistical analysis program. For the open-ended questions, thematic-categorical content analysis was used, divided into two categories, which were subdivided into units of meaning. Data analysis revealed that university students face challenges related to academic performance and time management, and that practicing leisure activities is of fundamental importance in maintaining their mental and physical health.