Empathy, Optimism, and Coping Strategies in Brazilian Women Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/idonline.v19i78.4268Keywords:
empathy, optimism, coping strategies, women's mental health, pandemicAbstract
The objective was to analyze the effects of empathy and optimism on coping strategies in 246 Brazilian workers who had been isolated for at least a month. Their average age was 38.7 years, and they worked in various professions, 60% of whom had a postgraduate degree. Two factors from the Empathy Inventory (perspective taking, affective sensitivity) were used: the Problem Coping Scale and the Optimism Assessment Scale. The results indicated that empathy and optimism positively predicted problem-focused ways of coping with stress. These data demonstrate that women with empathic characteristics of genuine interest in meeting the needs of others and optimistic attitudes about the future tend to perceive expected outcomes as achievable and persist in their efforts, which contributes to the adoption of active strategies.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Alexandra de Oliveira Rodrigues Marçulo, Renata Silva de Carvalho Chinelato, Michelle Morelo Pereira
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