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. 2025 Jan 17:12:1492229.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1492229. eCollection 2024.

Stress sources and symptoms: the role of gender in a Brazilian university medical school

Marina Romeo  1 , Antonio Luiz Marques  2 , Montserrat Yepes-Baldó  1 , Sefa Boria-Reverter  1
Affiliations

Stress sources and symptoms: the role of gender in a Brazilian university medical school

Marina Romeo et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: The main objective of this research was to identify the sources and symptoms of occupational stress among Brazilian university professors and examine the impact of gender on this relationship.

Methods: A total of 81 university professors from a Brazilian Federal University Medical School answered a questionnaire that collected demographic and occupational data, lifestyle information, health issues, and stress symptoms originating from work and personal factors. Univariate statistics, Spearman correlation and the forgotten effects theory were used to analyze the data.

Results: Participants experienced medium-high stress levels from individual factors and low stress levels from work-related factors. Common stress symptoms included fatigue and nervousness. There was a significant correlation between stress sources from work and individual factors, with different symptoms linked to each source. Gender moderated the relationship between work-related stress sources and symptoms and the forgotten effects theory revealed overlooked but significant cause-and-effect relationships.

Discussion: Universities should implement supportive measures and policies that consider the unique challenges faced by faculty, particularly related to gender. These initiatives can create a healthier and more productive work environment for professors and benefit both faculty members and students alike.

Keywords: Brazil; faculty; gender; occupational health; occupational stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gender moderation effect in the sources of stress derived from work (SSW)–stress symptoms (SS) relationship.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Matrix (D). Global sample.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Direct and indirect effect between source of stress “take life in a very fast pace, doing more and more work in less time” and using cigarettes to relieve tension.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Matrix (D). Men's sample.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Matrix (D). Women's sample.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Direct and indirect effect between source of stress “take life in a very fast pace, doing more and more work in less time” and using cigarettes to relieve tension (Men).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Direct and indirect effect between source of stress “take life in a very fast pace, doing more and more work in less time” and using cigarettes to relieve tension (Women).
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