El nivel de estrés percibido en comerciantes de la plaza de san francisco de la ciudad de cuenca – Ecuador, año 2022

The purpose of this research was to describe the levels of perceived stress in merchants of the Plaza San Francisco in the city of Cuenca. It was developed through a non-experimental quantitative approach of transversal cut, with descriptive scope. The sample taken was of 51 merchants of the San Francisco Plaza. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) with its corresponding informed consent was used as a data collection instrument. It was evidenced that the sample presents, mainly, moderate levels of perceived stress, ranging from 11 to 16 (41.2%). On the other hand, coping skills ranged from 13 to 18 points (49.0%), corresponding to low capacities to respond to stressors. It is concluded that the levels of Perceived Stress were moderate, and it is also evident that the highest percentage of traders do not possess coping skills useful for managing difficult and stressful situations. In relation to general distress, it was possible to demonstrate their high perception of stress in difficult situations, as well as their low control over them.