Correlation between stress and lifestyle in teachers at some schools in Lima, Peru, during telework in 2020

BACKGROUND: Stress and unhealthy lifestyle are serious problems in public health and education, particularly due to their significant relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between stress and lifestyle in teachers at some schools in Lima, Peru, during telework in 2020. METHOD: This observational, quantitative, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in 217 school teachers from Lima. Lifestyle was measured using the FANTASTIC questionnaire; stress was measured using the Teaching Stress Scale (ED-6), comprised of the anxiety, depression, maladaptive beliefs, work pressure and poor coping dimensions. The Spearman correlation between numerical variables, and the difference of the FANTASTIC score according to the categorical variables, were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis test, as necessary. Multivariable analysis was done with a multiple linear regression model to find raw and adjusted beta (beta a). RESULTS: The median of the ED-6 scale was 81 (RI: 64-105). Sixty-four percent of the teachers had a good-excellent lifestyle; 27.2%, regular; and 8.49%, bad-dangerous. The FANTASTIC score had an inverse correlation with ED-6 (beta(a) : -0.16, 95%; CI: -0.20 to -0.12) adjusted for age and cohabitation with children. Likewise, teachers between 40 and 49 years old (beta(a): 2.89, 95%; CI: 0.17 to 5.62) had a better lifestyle; and teachers who lived with children (beta a: -5.48, 95%; CI: -7.89 to -3.06), a worse lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: As stress increased, the lifestyle quality worsened in teachers at some schools in Lima, Peru, during telework in 2020.