Gender differences in GPs’ strategies for coping with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic in Catalonia: A cross-sectional study

Author, as appears in the article.: Aragones, Enric; Fernandez-San-Martin, Maribel; Rodriguez-Barragan, Maria; Martin-Lujan, Francisco; Solanes, Monica; Berenguera, Anna; Siso, Antoni; Basora, Josep

Department: Medicina i Cirurgia

URV's Author/s: Basora Gallisa, Josep / Martín Lujan, Francisco Manuel

Keywords: Stress, psychological Stress Spain Sex factors Pandemics Middle aged Male Humans Health-care workers General practitioner (gp) Gender differences Female Cross-sectional studies Covid-19 pandemic Covid-19 Coping strategies Adaptation, psychological stress sex-differences general practitioner (gp) gender differences covid-19 pandemic anxiety

Abstract: Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has increased stress levels in GPs, who have resorted to different coping strategies to deal with this crisis. Gender differences in coping styles may be contributing factors in the development of psychological distress. Objectives: To identify differences by gender and by stress level in coping strategies of GPs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey conducted with GPs in Catalonia (Spain), in June–July 2021. via the institution’s email distribution list, all GPs members of the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine were invited to complete a survey assessing sociodemographic, health and work-related characteristics, experienced stress (Stress scale of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-DASS 21) and the frequency of use of a range of coping strategies (Brief-COPE) classified as problem-focused, emotion-focused and avoidant strategies, some of which are adaptive and others maladaptive. We compared the scores of each strategy by gender and stress level using Student’s t-test. Results: Of 4739 members, 522 GPs participated in the study (response rate 11%; 79.1% women; mean age = 46.9 years, SD = 10.5). Of these, 41.9% reported moderate-severe stress levels. The most common coping strategies were acceptance, active coping, planning, positive reframing and venting. More frequently than men, women resorted to emotional and instrumental support, venting, distraction and self-blame, whereas men used acceptance and humour more commonly than women. Moderate-severe stress levels were associated with non-adaptive coping, with increased use of avoidance strategies, self-blame, religion and venting, and decreased use of positive reframing and acceptance. Conclusion: The most common coping strategies were adaptive and differed by gender. However, highly stressful situations caused maladaptive strategies to emerge.

Thematic Areas: Primary health care Medicine, general & internal Medicine (miscellaneous) General medicine Family practice

licence for use: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/

Author's mail: josep.basora@urv.cat paco.martin@urv.cat josep.basora@urv.cat

Author identifier: 0000-0003-0359-3588

Record's date: 2025-02-18

Paper version: info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Licence document URL: https://repositori.urv.cat/ca/proteccio-de-dades/

Paper original source: European Journal Of General Practice. 29 (2): 2155135-

APA: Aragones, Enric; Fernandez-San-Martin, Maribel; Rodriguez-Barragan, Maria; Martin-Lujan, Francisco; Solanes, Monica; Berenguera, Anna; Siso, Antoni; B (2023). Gender differences in GPs’ strategies for coping with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic in Catalonia: A cross-sectional study. European Journal Of General Practice, 29(2), 2155135-. DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2022.2155135

Entity: Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Journal publication year: 2023

Publication Type: Journal Publications