Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Brazilian federal public servants: a scoping review

https://doi.org/10.5935/rpot/2025.25938

Authors

Abstract

Mental health issues are among the leading causes of work absenteeism, affecting workers and the economy. This study aimed to map and synthesize the methodological characteristics and types of evidence available in studies on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among Brazilian federal public servants. A scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR checklist, with systematic searches in six article databases and two dissertation and thesis databases. A total of 840 studies were identified, of which 19 were included in the qualitative analysis. Most studies were surveys, reporting high prevalence rates of psychological symptoms among federal public servants, ranging from 8.9% to 73.2%. Only four studies assessed interventions, highlighting a shortage of targeted strategies. The findings emphasize the need to expand experimental studies and develop public policies to mitigate the negative impacts of mental health issues in the workplace.

Author Biography

  • Fernanda Machado Lopes, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil
    Professora no Departamento de Psicologia da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Coordenadora do Laboratório de Psicologia Cognitiva Básica e Aplicada.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-23

Issue

Vol. 25 No. contínuo (2025): rPOT Continuous numbering/2025

Section

Literature Reviews

License

All opinions expressed in the manuscripts are the sole responsibility of the authors.

The authors retain the copyright to the published articles and grant the journal *Psicologia: Organizações e Trabalho* (rPOT) the right of first publication.

Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, allowing for their sharing, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation, provided that the original publication in rPOT is properly cited.

All published articles receive a permanent digital identifier (DOI).

Manuscripts must adhere to the principles of scientific integrity and originality. The reproduction of excerpts, figures, tables, or other previously published materials must comply with copyright laws and citation standards and, when necessary, be accompanied by authorization from the respective rights holders.