Abstract

Objective:This study investigated stress and performance levels in candidates for the Brazilian Bar Association examination (Exame da Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil) in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.Methods:The following instruments were used: A sociodemographic data sheet, Lipp's Stress Symptom Inventory for Adults, the Ways of Coping Scale, the Adult Self-Report Scale, and the Self-Report Questionnaire. The final sample comprised 117 candidates, aged from 18 to 59 years (mean = 29.7, standard deviation = 7.8), 76 women (65%) and 41 men (35%).Results:In the first phase of the examination, 67 candidates were approved (57.3%), but there was no significant difference in terms of stress: stress symptoms were present in 76.1% of the successful candidates and 62% of the unsuccessful candidates; (χ2 (1) = 2.09; p = 0.148). In terms of stress phases, 70.6% of the successful candidates (n = 36) were in the resistance phase and 78.4% of these had psychological symptoms. The mean age of successful candidates (28.2 years) was lower than that of unsuccessful candidates (31.7 years); (t (115) = −2.48; p = 0.015). Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms were detected in 18 successful candidates (26.9%) and 6 unsuccessful candidates (12.2%); (χ2 (1) = 2.85; p = 0.091).Conclusions:Candidates who were successful in the first phase of the Brazilian Bar Association examination tended to be younger and scored higher for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, but their stress levels did not differ from those of unsuccessful candidates.

Highlights

  • People are increasingly exposed to stressful situations due to the continuous transformations of society

  • Data presented as n (%), unless otherwise specified

  • Writing, the participants in the present study still did not know whether they had passed the second phase of the examination

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Summary

Introduction

People are increasingly exposed to stressful situations due to the continuous transformations of society. Increased stimuli, such as professional and personal demands, make interpersonal relationships more and more intense, causing conflict, tensions and stress.[1] Stress and its influence on relationships have been investigated since Hans Selye’s2 pioneering research on general adaptation syndrome, in which external demands lead to a stress response that is linked, in some cases, to physiological or psychological changes in the body that can negatively affect homeostasis.[3]. Submitted Jul 10 2019, accepted for publication Feb 18 2020. Suggested citation: José FEM, Golbert CW, José LHA, Dallegrave ET, Kristensen CH. Assessment of the relationship between stress and performance in candidates for the Brazilian Bar Association examination.

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