Perceived occupational stress and metabolic syndrome among school teachers in northern Peru: a cross-sectional study

Mondéjar-Barrios M.D.; Leon-Rodriguez J.A.; Rodas-Trujillo K.J.; Matos-Inga M.A.; Proaño-Bernaola J.A.; Mori-Díaz S.L. · Acta Psychologica (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107699

Resumen

Introduction: Occupational stress may contribute to cardiometabolic dysregulation, but evidence linking perceived stress to metabolic syndrome (MetS) among school teachers remains limited, particularly in Latin America. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 teachers from two educational institutions in Trujillo, northern Peru. MetS was defined using harmonized criteria, and occupational stress was assessed with the Spanish ED-6 Teacher Stress Scale. Analyses included Fisher's exact test, Spearman correlations with Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment, and Firth penalized logistic regression using the standardized overall stress score as the primary exposure. Results: MetS was present in 53% of participants (95% CI: 38–67%). MetS prevalence did not differ significantly across empirical stress quintiles (p = 0.190). The overall stress score was not associated with MetS in the unadjusted model (OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.54–1.85; p = 0.997) or after adjustment for age and sex (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.57–1.92; p = 0.897). Work-related pressure correlated positively with fasting glucose (ρ = 0.351; p = 0.027), and demotivation correlated inversely with triglycerides (ρ = −0.317; p = 0.046); however, neither association remained significant after multiplicity correction (q = 0.975). Conclusion: Overall occupational stress was not associated with MetS in this sample. Larger multicenter and longitudinal studies are needed to estimate this relationship with greater precision.

Instituciones: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú; Universidad César Vallejo