The hazing gap: The concealed burden in Brazilian medical schools and the need for validated assessment tools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v104iesp.e-243104Keywords:
University Hazing, Medical Students, Learning Environment, Scale ValidationAbstract
The university learning environment plays a crucial role in shaping students’ mental health and overall well-being. Although these settings are often associated with personal and academic growth, they can also expose students to conditions that contribute to psychological distress1. Recent evidence shows that certain aspects of college life, especially in medical schools, are linked to high rates of anxiety and depression among medical students. Factors such as academic pressure, performance demands, and the broader institutional culture help explain these findings2,3.
For newly admitted students, these factors are predominantly linked to the process of entering a new environment. The transition into university often involves seeking belonging within groups such as sports teams, student organizations, and residence communities4. Initiation rituals are part of this integration process and can range from welcoming and harmless to violent and abusive5. These violent and potentially abusive practices are collectively known as “hazing”, which includes various forms of violence, such as gender or racial violence, bullying, and institutional violence6.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Euripedes Constantino Miguel, Giancarlo Lucchetti, Rodolfo Furlan Damiano, Clarissa Garcia, Laura Fernandes Berto, Rodrigo Hadade, Juliane Piasseschi de Bernardin Gonçalves, Bianca Besteti Fernandes Damiano, Elizabeth J. Allan, David Kerschner, Oscarina da Silva Ezequiel, Alessandra Lamas Granero Lucchetti, Lisabeth F. Dilalla, Homero Vallada
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
