Workplace Stress in Military Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: A Research Note

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of burnout syndrome symptoms and related factors in Brazilian military women during COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms are a combination of physical tiredness, emotional exhaustion, and cognitive depletion, which are related to the job activity and result in mental disconnection with work and reduced professional achievement. It is a cross-sectional study on the frequency of burnout syndrome in military women in which individual questionnaires were delivered via e-mail and returned by the same form. The results revealed that 44.5% of the 164 military women were affected by burnout syndrome. The organizational environment, work overload, control over tasks, and some individual conditions can be highlighted among the factors for developing symptoms. The occurrence of stress symptoms among Brazilian military women was probably due to the constant exposure to stress in their job. The implications of women’s military service on their performance to work during the pandemic are discussed.