A cross-sectional study conducted in a state-owned company undergoing a restructuring process in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Brazil, aimed to identify manifestations of distress among managers. The study used the Self-Report Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20), a socioeconomic questionnaire, document analysis, and a focus group. The principal manifestations of distress were: anxiety (73.2%); sadness (43.7%); and dissatisfaction (39.0%). Of the nine study variables, only gender was statistically associated with distress (p < 0.05). Females showed significantly greater distress than males (OR = 6.0; 95% CI). The focus group was an important instrument for identifying distress, while the questionnaires helped identify defensive strategies, despite the conceptual differences that were observed. The conclusion was that the utilization of distinct methodological approaches in studies on distress can lead to findings that help produce and develop the field of Workers' Health.
Psychological Stress; Mental Health; Occupational Health
