Gender Self-Perception and Psychological Distress in Healthcare Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca, Ana Belén Subirón-Valera, Ángel Gasch-Gallén, Estela Calatayud, Isabel Gómez-Soria and Yolanda Marcén-Román
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Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ana Belén Subirón-Valera: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Ángel Gasch-Gallén: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Estela Calatayud: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Isabel Gómez-Soria: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Yolanda Marcén-Román: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze university Health Sciences students’ self-perception regarding gender stereotypes, and to explore whether there was any association between gender stereotypes and clinical/socio-demographic variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 252 university students who completed a self-administrated online questionnaire (18.3% males, 81.7% females). We evaluated the self-perception of gender stereotypes as determined using the BSRI-12 questionnaire and explored the association of this measure with the impact of perceived stress measured using a modified scale (PSS-10-C) as well as anxiety and depression according to scores on the Goldberg scale (GADS). Results: According to the students’ self-perception of gender stereotypes, 24.9% self-perceived themselves as feminine, 20.1% as masculine, 24.9% as androgynous, and 30% as undifferentiated. The degree determines self-identification with gender stereotypes. Nursing and Occupational Therapy are studied mostly by women, 28.4% and 45%, respectively, while Physiotherapy is studied mainly by men (71.2%). Females indicated more anxiety (75.7%) and depression (81.7%) than males (52.9% and 67.3%, respectively). In contrast, males developed more stress (88.5%) than females (74.1%). Conclusions: University degree, anxiety, depression, and stress determined self-identification with gender stereotypes. The results of this study indicate that gender roles influence the possibility of developing mental disorders and should be taken into account in future studies.

Keywords: gender self-perception; COVID-19; university health students; gender stereotypes; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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