Efeito do exercício físico de academia no nível de estresse de mulheres em academias exclusivamente femininas

Abstract

The term stress indicates a set of psychophysiological reactions that alter the organism, in order to seek adaptations of the changes or challenges that arise in the day to day. This study aimed to identify the effects of physical exercise on the stress level of women in exclusively female academies. For this study a descriptive correlation methodology was used with a quantitative approach and a longitudinal design. The selected sample consisted of 44 women, aged between 25 and 55 years, divided into two groups: active group (GA) composed of 22 students enrolled for more than 6 months in the exclusive academies for women (Curves and Via Mulher) (age; 38.2 ± 10.2 years) and a non-active group (GNA) formed by 22 non-physical activity women (age, 36.7 ± 8.1 years). (age, 36.7 ± 8.1 years). The participants of the GA and GNA answered two questionnaires, one to measure the level of stress through the Stress Perception Scale 10 (EPS-10), and another questionnaire regarding the age, profession, weekly attendance at the gym, and the modalities of the participate. The women in the active group (GA) responded again (EPS-10) after a period of 12 weeks. The Mann Whitney statistical test identified significant differences (p <0.05) between CNA and GA for the stress level (26.8 ± 1.5 and 20.2 ± 1.2, respectively). In order to identify the effect of 12 weeks of physical exercise on the stress level (EPS-10, PRÉ and POS) of the active women, this Student t was applied for repeated measurements. Significant differences were observed in the active group between the PRÉ and POS conditions (p <0.05), where a decrease of 23% after the 12-week period in EPS-10 was observed. No correlation was found between EPS-10 values and occupations. The results of the study indicate that physical activity has a beneficial effect on the level of stress.