The mediational role of distracting stimuli in emotional word recognition.

Emotions are considered distractions that often prompt subsequent actions. In this way, the aim of this work was to examine the role of distracting stimuli on the relationship of RT and accuracy. In order to do that, a word recognition task was carried out in which emotional valence was manipulated. More precisely, a mediational model, testing how changes in distracting stimuli mediate RT predicting accuracy across emotional conditions, was carried out. The results suggest that changes in task demands should distract from the secondary task to the extent that these task demands implicate and affect accuracy. Moreover, the distracting task seems to mediate between accuracy and the target task under emotional stimuli, showing the negative distracting condition to be the most remarkable effect. Furthermore, neutral distracting latencies did not affect accuracy. Understanding the mechanisms by which emotion impairs cognitive functions has important implications in several fields, such as affective disorders. However, the effects of emotion on goal-directed cognitive processing remain unclear.

The mediational role of distracting stimuli in emotional word recognition

Abstract Emotions are considered distractions that often prompt subsequent actions. In this way, the aim of this work was to examine the role of distracting stimuli on the relationship of RT and accuracy. In order to do that, a word recognition task was carried out in which emotional valence was manipulated. More precisely, a mediational model, testing how changes in distracting stimuli mediate RT predicting accuracy across emotional conditions, was carried out. The results suggest that changes in task demands should distract from the secondary task to the extent that these task demands implicate and affect accuracy. Moreover, the distracting task seems to mediate between accuracy and the target task under emotional stimuli, showing the negative distracting condition to be the most remarkable effect. Furthermore, neutral distracting latencies did not affect accuracy. Understanding the mechanisms by which emotion impairs cognitive functions has important implications in several fields, such as affective disorders. However, the effects of emotion on goal-directed cognitive processing remain unclear.

Factores predisponentes, facilitadores y reforzantes respecto al tabaquismo en trabajadores sanitarios / Predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors regarding smoking in healthcare workers

Objetivos: Ante la elevada prevalencia de tabaquismo que continúa existiendo entre el personal sanitario, se ha llevado a cabo este estudio a fi n de identifi car y analizar los Factores Predisponentes, Facilitadores y Reforzantes (PRECEDE) respecto al tabaquismo en trabajadores de un Hospital Universitario Valenciano. Métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio cualitativo transversal, basado en un cuestionario no estructurado sobre los factores que motivan el consumo de tabaco en una muestra aleatoria de 120 trabajadores del Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset, diferenciándose cuatro categorías (n=30): Nunca fumadores, Fumadores habituales, Ex Fumadores sin recaída y Fumadores tras recaída. Resultados: Los principales factores PRECEDE identifi - cados en cada grupo fueron: Nunca Fumadores: Predisponentes (Conocimiento, “sé que es perjudicial”), Facilitadores (entorno familiar no fumador) y Reforzantes (Experiencia, “lo probé y no me gustó”). Fumadores: Predisponentes (“fumar es mi vicio”), Facilitadores (situaciones de estrés) y Reforzantes (“me hace sentir bien”). Ex Fumadores sin Recaídas: Predisponentes (problemas de salud), Facilitadores (deporte, presión familiar y social) y Reforzantes (ahorro económico). Fumadores tras Recaída: Predisponentes (creencia “por uno no pasa nada”), Facilitadores (entorno de fumadores) y Reforzantes (sensación de calma). Conclusiones: Según el estudio realizado, es recomendable que los programas de educación sanitaria contra el tabaquismo en el ámbito hospitalario presten especial atención a los factores relacionados con falsas creencias todavía existentes en el personal sanitario, así como a los entornos de los fumadores (AU)

Objectives: Since a high prevalence of tobacco addiction continues existing among healthcare workers, this study has been carried out in order to identify and to analyze Predisposing, Enabling and Reinforcing factors (PRECEDE) regarding smoking habits in healthcare workers at a Valencian University Hospital. Methods: We performed a qualitative cross-sectional study based on a non-structured questionnaire about factors that motivate smoking habit. A random sample of 120 health-care workers from Dr Peset University Hospital were interviewed and distributed among four categories (n=30): Non-smokers, Smokers, Ex- Smokers without relapses and Smokers with relapse. Results: The most important PRECEDE factor for each group was: Never-smokers: Predisposing (Knowledge, “I know that smoking is detrimental to health”), Enabling (non-smoker’s family environments) and Reinforcing (Experience, “I tried it and I did not like it”). Smokers: Predisposing (“smoking is my vice”) Enabling (stressful situations) and Reinforcing (“it makes me feel good”). Ex-Smokers without Relapses: Predisposing (Health problems), Enabling (Sport, family Pressure and social Perception) and Reinforcing (Cost). Smokers after Relapse: Predisposing (Belief It’s just one cigarette), Enabling (smoker’s environment) and Reinforcing (sensation of calm). Conclusions: According to this study, health promotion programs against smoking in hospitals should pay special attention to factors related to false beliefs among healthcare workers and smoker’s settings (AU)