GENDER DIFFERENCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS DURING THE SOCIAL ISOLATION IMPOSED BY COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors

  • Gabriela Oliveira de Carvalho Universidade Federal do Tocantins
  • Elisangela Vilar de Assis Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Ankilma do Nascimento Andrade Feitosa Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Rafaelle Cavalcante de Lira Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Natália Bitu Pinto Universidade Federal de Campina Grande https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9996-3303
  • Kassandra Lins Braga Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Luciana Modesto de Brito Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Thaise de Abreu Brasileiro Sarmento Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Pierri Emanoel de Abreu Oliveira Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Alexsandra Laurindo Leite Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Jéssica Alves Moreira Faculdade Santa Maria
  • Marta Azevedo dos Santos Universidade Federal do Tocantins
  • Filipe Silva Barreto Universidade Federal do Tocantins
  • Ana Luiza da Silva de Jesus
  • Érica Guiomar Verdolin dos Santos Universidade Federal do Tocantins
  • José Bruno Nunes Ferreira Silva

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n120267

Abstract

The isolation imposed by COVID-19 interfered with the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of medical students, reducing healthy habits such as physical activity (PAF). This study sought to determine the impact of the first wave of COVID-19 on the HRQoL of medical students and establish the relationship between the use of e-Health tools for PAF in mental health. This cross-sectional study involved medical students who responded to an online questionnaire during the social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil to report their sociodemographic data, health status, use of e-Health tools for PAF and HRQoL through the Short-Form Healthy Survey (SF-36). Multiple linear regression was performed to identify potential predictors. Medical students' mental health was affected during social isolation and gender differences were observed in most SF-36 domains. Women had lower levels of perception for social aspects, emotional performance, mental health and general HRQoL. The use of e-Health tools for PAF was positively associated with quality of life related to mental health. The results demonstrate that interventions through public policies are necessary to help vulnerable people who face mental health problems.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-12 — Updated on 2026-02-13

Versions

How to Cite

Oliveira de Carvalho, G., Vilar de Assis, E., do Nascimento Andrade Feitosa, A., Cavalcante de Lira, R., Bitu Pinto, N., Lins Braga, K., … Bruno Nunes Ferreira Silva, J. . (2026). GENDER DIFFERENCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS DURING THE SOCIAL ISOLATION IMPOSED BY COVID-19: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. DESAFIOS - Revista Interdisciplinar Da Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, 13(1), 69–91. https://doi.org/10.20873/vol13n120267 (Original work published February 12, 2026)

Most read articles by the same author(s)