Experiência de endividamento estudantil com o FIES: aspectos psicológicos e satisfação com a vida

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the subjects' perception of the funding program, Fies (Higher Education Student Financing Fund), and the effects of this phenomenon on their health and well-being. The situation of indebtedness and insolvency, in general, is characterized by its complexity and its possible effects on the quality of life of subjects according to the world literature. Although there are more general productions on the phenomenon of getting into debt, it is possible to perceive a gap when the theme refers to the student financing in question. This way, the first chapter intends to carry out a historical survey of the programs that the Brazilian State has built over the years for the population to have more access to college education. In addition, it addresses how the government understood each proposal that was implemented, how the funding worked and its implications. It became a necessary text so that a path could be traced to the present day. The second chapter is a theoretical, conceptual and narrative text about indebtedness, in order to build a base on the theme. Then, are presented recent statistical data, reflections on the subject’s relationship with their finances, an exposition of the factors that are highlighted as predictors of indebtedness, the possible consequences of being experiencing this situation and some psychological interventions present in the literature. The third chapter aims to explore the indebtedness experience that Fies borrowers have, how they perceive the financing program, and what impacts they describe in relation to their quality of life and mental health. The factors that compose the subject's indebtedness reality correlate with the increase in symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. Due to the negative perception that borrowers have in relation to the Fies, they also have a negative perception of subjective happiness, satisfaction with life, educational satisfaction and with depressive symptoms. The regression analyzes suggest that personality traits explain the indebtedness profile, indicating that the amount of debt, the total amount and the positive perception of Fies are related to the personality characteristics of individuals. The indebtedness profile explained the subject's perception of their well-being and aspects of their mental health, indicating that there is a relation between indebtedness and lower levels of subjective happiness and life satisfaction, as well as predicting higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression. The experience of indebtedness can act as predictors of a negative impression about life satisfaction and an increase in symptoms of mental illness. New research is needed to understand the extent of this phenomenon in the population benefited by public policy for access to higher education.