Self-perceived stress by women during the COVID-19 pandemic: an online survey with Brazilian physiotherapists

Abstract

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to investigate the factors related to stress in female health professionals since women and men are exposed differently to pandemic consequences. Objective: to analyze which psychosocial demands, sociodemographic, and clinical factors were associated with high levels of perceived stress among Brazilian female physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study. The data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale and an online questionnaire sent by e-mail. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (ORs), with their respective 95% CI, were estimated by logistic regression. Results: the sample was compounded by 339 physiotherapists. Participants who reported a lot/extreme concern with household workers (OR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.40; 5.46), or relationship with a partner (OR = 4.06; 95% CI: 1.79; 9.21) or financial questions (OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.15; 4.35) were more likely to report high levels of perceived stress. In conclusion, the psychosocial demands associated with high levels of perceived stress are high or extreme concern with household chores, or with the relationship with a partner, or financial issues. Conclusion: the factors associated with high levels of perceived stress in this sample of Brazilian physiotherapists were the following psychosocial demands: high or extreme concern with household chores, high or extreme with a relationship with a partner, or high or extreme with financial issues.