The Effect of Pilates Exercises on Anxiety and Job Stress of COVID-19 Nurses. A Quasi-experimental Study

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effect of Pilates exercises on nurses’ job anxiety and stress during COVID-19 pandemic. Results: The results of the present study showed that 63.3% of subjects had moderate to severe job stress and 30% had severe job stress. In the intervention group, the mean (standard deviation) of anxiety was 13 (8.35) before intervention, which reached 8.33 (5.87) after the intervention (p=0.062). Moreover, the mean (standard deviation) of job stress in the control group decreased from 188.67 (28.98) to 176.46 (28.84) (P=0.530). Conclusions: The results showed that Pilates exercises alone do not affect the anxiety and job stress of nurses and other supplements are needed in stressful environments.