Work-Related Stress and Cognitive Performance of University Staff in Chile

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, stress has become a societal problem, especially work-related stress, as excessive stress leads to a decline in workers’ cognitive abilities, disrupting their mental health and affecting their daily lives.

Method: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. To assess stress and cognitive impairment in the workplace among professors, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) were used

Results: The results showed that the minimum score obtained on the MoCA test was 21 points, corresponding to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), while the maximum score was 29 points. The average MoCA score was 25.55 ± 2.18 points. Regarding total stress, the minimum recorded score was 22, with no participant free of stress, and the maximum score was 39. The average total stress score was 31.95 ± 4 points

Conclusions: There is an urgent need to implement strategies to prevent work-related stress factors that affect cognitive functioning. To this end, it is essential to clearly define job positions and responsibilities, provide adequate and comfortable working conditions, efficiently organize activities, offer training, provide support for personal problems, and promote work flexibility, among other measures.