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

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Published

2026-02-12

Versions

How to Cite

Oliveira de Carvalho, G., Guiomar Verdolin dos Santos, Érica, Luiza da Silva de Jesus, A., Silva Barreto, F., Azevedo dos Santos, M., Alves Moreira, J., … 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

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