TDAH e ansiedade social em estudantes universitários

Abstract

In the academic field, students are subject to many stressors that tend to exacerbate anxiety and heighten difficulties in concentration and performance. In that sense, to admit the possibility of there being students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity and Social Anxiety disorders implies understanding that these students are even more vulnerable to the stressors in the academic field and difficulties in education. Understanding this gravity, the present study sought to learn the frequency of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder in a sample of 147 university students, of various universities and courses. A frequency of 67,3% was found for Social Anxiety traits, and 63,9% for ADHD traits. Together the traits appeared in 48% of the whole sample. A statistically significant association was found for traits of ADHD and SAD (x²= 7,70, p < 0,05), as well a statistically significant association for the ADHD subtype and presence of Social Anxiety traits (x²= 8,09, p < 0,05), and the same for the degree of Social Anxiety and presence of ADHD traits (x²= 10,15, p < 0,05), but there was no statistically significant association for the degree of Social Anxiety and ADHD subtypes. As for sex, there was a statistically signifcant association only for presence of Social Anxiety traits (x²= 5,80, p < 0,05) but not for the other variables. This data suggest that there is an association for the appearance of ADHD and SAD, but that their subclassifications do not influence one another. It also implies the appearance of Social Anxiety Disorders is linked to the female sex, but the degree of Social Anxiety is not influenced, and sex has no signifcant influence over ADHD, nor its subtypes. This work was important to add to the growing number of brazilian scientific works researching ADHD and SAD in university students, and to draw attention to the frequency of the disorders, as they constitute many risks to the mental health of the students, such as in the fields of relationships, self esteem, memory, and concentration. It also aimed to investigate how the disorders appear together for the brazilian population, and the associations between them. The finding about the association of the female sex only with social anxiety helped raise questions about the role of sex in the appearance of ADHD. It is hoped that the work will raise more discussions about the psychological treatment for students with symptoms of anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity.