PURPOSE: To recognize the learning styles of applicants, dental students, and professors with several academic degrees. Besides, it was explored the association between grade point average (GPA) of the students and their learning styles. METHODS: It was designed a cross-sectional research. The present research was attended by applicants admitted for a place in the academic period 2019-1 and by the students of the Faculty of Dentistry enrolled during the academic period 2018-2. Besides, all professors were invited to participate. The participants responded to a validated questionnaire to identify their learning style after signing the informed consent. The T-student test was executed to calculate the differences between the groups; besides, post-hoc check was run. Linear regression models were performed expressed in β and 95% confidence intervals. P values of <0.05 were contemplated as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 34 applicants, 425 students, and 121 professors participated in the present research. Students and professors presented preference for the theorist and reflector styles; however, the applicant students had a higher preference for the theorist (p = .002), and pragmatist styles (p < .001). A significant correlation was observed between the higher GPA of the students and the theorist style (r = .2; p < .0001). The multivariate linear regression model showed that the theorist style protects against a lower mean of GPA in students (β = -.2; p = .018) after adjusting for sex, age, public high school, and semester enrolled. Besides, professors favored the theorist and reflector styles. CONCLUSIONS: Students and professors preferred the theorist and reflector styles; however, the applicant students favored the theorist and pragmatist. Besides, the theorist style protected against a lower mean of GPA in students.

Introduction: There is no recognised investigation examining the influence of some lifestyle comportments on academic performance (AP) in forcibly displaced students in higher education. Thus, the frequency of physical inactivity (PI), insufficient sleep (IS), alcohol consumption (AC), drug consumption (DC) and cigarette smoking (CS) and the independent and combined consequences of these habits on AP in forcibly displaced dental students were investigated. Materials and Methods: A sample of 185 students was studied (thirty-seven forcibly displaced and 148 non-displaced students). This cross-sectional study used an institutional administrative database that included students' demographic features and lifestyle behaviours. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the independent and combined effects of lifestyle behaviours on AP. Results: PI, IS, AC, DC and CS were observed in 51%, 43%, 83%, 27% and 16% of forcibly displaced students, respectively. Compared with non-displaced students, forcibly displaced students presented higher frequencies for all of these behaviours (P < .05), lower AP (P < .0001) and lower socioeconomic status (P = .003). Unadjusted regression models showed independent and significant associations between forcibly displaced students and PI (P = .01), IS (P = .01), AC (P = .01), DC (P < .0001), CS (P = .02) and low AP (P = .006). The multivariate model for AP and forcibly displaced students increased odds by 4.6 times (1.5-11; 95% CI). Moreover, the lifestyle comportments studied were also statistically significant, showing combined effects. The variables of gender and age were not statistically significant in the adjusted model. Conclusions: This research observed high frequencies of the behaviours analysed in forcibly displaced students. Furthermore, independent and combined effects of them on AP were detected.