CORREA, Mikael Almeida    DIAS, Ana Cristina Garcia. “It Helps Not to Go Crazy”: Qualitative Study on the practice of Sports in Academic Integration. []. , 23, 2, pp.566-585.   03--2024. ISSN 1808-4281.  https://doi.org/10.12957/epp.2023.77699.

The practice of sports is associated with academic studies in several countries, as a way to promote health and develop personal and social skills. This study aimed to comprehend how brazilian college students perceive the influence of sports practices on their integration process at university and on their academic performance. Participants were 260 college students, from a larger group of participants in a quantitative online study, which also had open-ended questions. The answers to these questions were subjected to a thematic analysis. Students describe different ways in which sports can contribute to a better academic performance and integration (social integration and recognition, stress management and learning soft skills). Difficulties to concile academic and sports activities (lack of time, schedule incompatibility, fatigue associated with sports practice) were also listed. Based on these reports, it is concluded that greater institutional measures are still needed to encourage the practice of sports in higher education and to facilitate its conciliation with academic activities.

: sports practice; university environment; academic integration..

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