PSYCHOLOGICAL DISCOMFORT AND STRESS DURING CONFINEMENT DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN ATHLETES AND NON-ATHLETES

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic situation has led to severe restrictions, including mandatory home confinement. Sport as a means to reduce stress and psychological discomfort results in the following research that aims to compare the state of psychological discomfort and stress during this period of confinement, of a group of people, based on their level of sporting activity and sex. Material and Method: we use a descriptive, cross-sectional design; A relational study is developed to analyze the degree of dependence between the variables sex and level of sports practice with stress and psychological discomfort, for this we have used the scale of perceived stress and that of psychological discomfort of Kessler, with a sample composed of a total of 660 participants (301 women [45.6%] and 359 men [54.4%]). Results: Significant differences were found in the study groups according to the level of sports practice, as well as their sex, referring to psychological discomfort and stress levels. Conclusions: It is concluded that confinement during the pandemic is associated with significantly high levels of psychological distress and stress that can reach the threshold of clinical relevance. Lower scores at higher athletic level.