Níveis de estresse, ansiedade, depressão e fatores associados durante a pandemia de COVID-19 em praticantes de Yoga

Abstract

The pandemic of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) and the public health crisis has generated stress in the entire population. The present study aimed to examine the practice of Yoga and its relationship with the levels of anxiety, depression, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was based on an anonymous online questionnaire applied between 19 and 26 May 2020, with sociodemographic questions, on the practice of Yoga during the pandemic and the Depression and Stress Anxiety Scale (DASS-21). Two hundred and thirteen participants completed the questionnaire. Overall, 12.2%, 12.2%, and 8.0% of severe symptoms for stress, anxiety, and depression were observed, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis (considering odds ratio; 95% confidence interval), older participants were less likely to have severe symptoms of stress (OR = 0.30; 95%CI: 0.13 – 0.70) and depression (OR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.12 - 0.92), while smoking increased the chances (OR = 7.7; 95%CI: 2.36 - 25.21) of severe anxiety symptoms. Greater experience in Yoga practice significantly reduces the chances of experiencing severe symptoms of stress (OR = 0.34; 95%IC 0.14 - 0.83) and anxiety (OR = 0.37; 95%IC: 0.15 - 0.91). Also, there is a reduction in the chances of experiencing severe symptoms of stress in practitioners who perform a greater number of weekly sessions during the pandemic (OR = 0.09; 95%IC: 0.01 - 0.88) and a reduction in depressive symptoms for those who managed to maintain the frequency of the practice in relation to the period before the pandemic (OR = 0.23; 95%IC: 0.06 - 0.84). Our observational data suggest that more experienced practitioners who have more weekly sessions report less psychological impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.