Psychological discomfort and stress during confinement due to the covid-19 pandemic. Comparative study between athletes and non-athletes.

Abstract

Carlos J López-Gutiérrez, Pau Vaccaro Benet, Jesús Díaz Rosado*, Manuel Castro-Sánchez and Manuel Castro-Sánchez

Antecedentes y objetivos: la situación de pandemia por COVID-19 ha provocado grandes restricciones, incluso el confinamiento domiciliario obligatorio. El deporte como medio para la reducción del estrés y el malestar psicológico deriva en la siguiente investigación que pretende comparar el estado de malestar psicológico y estrés durante este periodo de confinamiento, de grupo de personas, en función de su nivel de actividad deportiva y sexo.

Material y Método: utilizamos un diseño de carácter descriptivo y corte transversal; se desarrolla un estudio relacional para analizar el grado de dependencia entre las variables sexo y nivel de práctica deportiva con el estrés y malestar psicológico, para ello hemos utilizado la escala de estrés percibido y la de malestar psicológico de Kessler, con una muestra compuesta por un total de 660 participantes (301 mujeres [45,6%] y 359 hombres [54,4%]).

Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias significativas en los grupos de estudio según el nivel de práctica deportiva, así como su sexo, referente al malestar psicológico y niveles de estrés. Conclusiones: Se concluye que el confinamiento durante la pandemia se asocia con niveles significativamente altos de malestar psicológico y estrés que pueden alcanzar el umbral de relevancia clínica. Puntuaciones más bajas a mayor nivel deportivo.

Palabras clave: Covid-19. Malestar psicológico. Estrés, deporte. Psicología deportiva

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISCOMFORT AND STRESS DURING CONFINEMENT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic situation has led to severe restrictions, including mandatory home confinement. Sport as a means to reduce stress and psychological discomfort results in the following research that aims to compare the state of psychological discomfort and stress during this period of confinement, of a group of people, based on their level of sporting activity and sex.

Material and Method: we use a descriptive, cross-sectional design; A relational study is developed to analyze the degree of dependence between the variables sex and level of sports practice with stress and psychological discomfort, for this we have used the scale of perceived stress and that of psychological discomfort of Kessler, with a sample composed of a total of 660 participants (301 women [45.6%] and 359 men [54.4%]).

Results: Significant differences were found in the study groups according to the level of sports practice, as well as their sex, referring to psychological discomfort and stress levels.

Conclusions: It is concluded that confinement during the pandemic is associated with significantly high levels of psychological distress and stress that can reach the threshold of clinical relevance. Lower scores at higher athletic level.