ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There are strong theoretical arguments that those high on Neuroticism (N) should normally exhibit higher prevailing levels of the stress-linked hormone cortisol (C), but findings are inconsistent, probably reflecting methodological weaknesses especially in taking account of C's diurnal cycle. METHODS: High and low N students [Total N=118; mean age=20.99years] were recruited and their salivary cortisol measured, ensuring that saliva samples were numerically adequate to assess C's diurnal cycle over two days with objective verification of sample timing. RESULTS: Cortisol secretion was approximately 20% higher in High N than low N participants in the period of 12h after awakening (p<.008), but no differences in secretion were evident during the first 0.75 of this period, when typically the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) rapidly takes cortisol to its daily peak. N effects were thus confined to the 0.75h-12h period (p<.007). Males had approximately 25% higher cortisol secretion levels than females, also confined to the 0.75h-12h period (p<.003). No significant differences between N groups were evident for dynamic measures of cortisol change, viz. the magnitude of CAR rise and subsequent diurnal fall. All effects were controlled for cohort date of study entry, age, smoking status, study day and time of awakening. DISCUSSION: With careful control, it appears that an important theoretically predicted effect exists, and is replicated in different student intake cohorts recruited in different years. Most importantly, findings support several lines of evidence that the period of massive rise in the brief 0-0.75h CAR period should be seen as quite separate from the rest of the diurnal cycle, underpinned by different control mechanisms, and with potentially different correlates.
Subject(s)
Anxiety Disorders/metabolism , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Personality/physiology , Adult , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Neuroticism , Saliva/chemistry , Sex Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Psychological harassment in the workplace involves disrespectful or humiliating behavior to workers. Nurses make up one of the groups that are most exposed to these behaviors. This descriptive study investigated the most common types of psychological harassment in the nursing workplace and their relationship with sociodemographic variables among 285 nurses in Spain. Findings indicate differences in the prevalence of psychological harassment depending on the criterion that was used. Psychological harassment is positively correlated with a desire to abandon the profession and negatively with participation in decision making. The results suggest combining different measures to evaluate psychological harassment in the workplace and zero-tolerance polices for psychological abuse.
Subject(s)
Nurses/psychology , Social Behavior , Workplace/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Age Factors , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Job Satisfaction , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Spain/epidemiology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workplace/psychology , Young AdultABSTRACT
El mobbing es un fenómeno de estudio relativamente reciente, contextualizado dentro de la categoría de los malos tratos. Especialmente se le conoce como maltrato psicológico en el lugar de trabajo. Se desencadena por una relación asimétrica de poder entre dos o más personas y el sustrato fundamental es la envidia y la ambición de poder en, al menos, una de ellas (AU)
