Mediterranean diet may have lasting effects on brain health
January 4, 2017
Science Daily/American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
Older people who followed a Mediterranean diet retained more brain volume over a three-year period than those who did not follow the diet as closely, new research shows. But contrary to earlier studies, eating more fish and less meat was not related to changes in the brain.
https://images.sciencedaily.com/2017/01/170104174210_1_540x360.jpg
The Mediterranean diet includes large amounts of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, beans and cereal grains such as wheat and rice, moderate amounts of fish, dairy and wine, and limited red meat and poultry.
Credit: © marrakeshh / Fotolia
A new study shows that older people who followed a Mediterranean diet retained more brain volume over a three-year period than those who did not follow the diet as closely. The study is published in the January 4, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. But contrary to earlier studies, eating more fish and less meat was not related to changes in the brain.
The Mediterranean diet includes large amounts of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, beans and cereal grains such as wheat and rice, moderate amounts of fish, dairy and wine, and limited red meat and poultry.
"As we age, the brain shrinks and we lose brain cells which can affect learning and memory," said study author Michelle Luciano, PhD, of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. "This study adds to the body of evidence that suggests the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on brain health."
Researchers gathered information on the eating habits of 967 Scottish people around age 70 who did not have dementia. Of those people, 562 had an MRI brain scan around age 73 to measure overall brain volume, gray matter volume and thickness of the cortex, which is the outer layer of the brain. From that group, 401 people then returned for a second MRI at age 76. These measurements were compared to how closely participants followed the Mediterranean diet.
The participants varied in how closely their dietary habits followed the Mediterranean diet principles. People who didn't follow as closely to the Mediterranean diet were more likely to have a higher loss of total brain volume over the three years than people who followed the diet more closely. The difference in diet explained 0.5 percent of the variation in total brain volume, an effect that was half the size of that due to normal aging.
The results were the same when researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect brain volume, such as age, education and having diabetes or high blood pressure.
There was no relationship between grey matter volume or cortical thickness and the Mediterranean diet.
The researchers also found that fish and meat consumption were not related to brain changes, which is contrary to earlier studies.
"It's possible that other components of the Mediterranean diet are responsible for this relationship, or that it's due to all of the components in combination," Luciano said.
Luciano noted that earlier studies looked at brain measurements at one point in time, whereas the current study followed people over time.
"In our study, eating habits were measured before brain volume was, which suggests that the diet may be able to provide long-term protection to the brain," said Luciano. "Still, larger studies are needed to confirm these results."
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170104174210.htm
Stimulating the brain with electricity may reduce bulimia symptoms
January 25, 2017
Science Daily/King's College London
Key symptoms of bulimia nervosa, including the urge to binge eat and restrict food intake, are reduced by delivering electricity to parts of the brain using non-invasive brain stimulation, according to new research.
Bulimia is an eating disorder characterised by a vicious cycle of repeated bouts of distressing binge eating and inappropriate attempts to compensate for overeating through vomiting, extreme dieting, or the misuse of different medicines. These symptoms are typically driven by an intense preoccupation with body weight, shape or appearance. Over time these features become compulsive and resemble those of an addiction.
Bulimia typically emerges in adolescence and is much more likely to develop in women. It is thought that 1-2 per cent of women have bulimia at some stage in their life. The disorder is associated with multiple medical complications and up to 4 per cent of people with bulimia die prematurely from the disorder.
Whilst existing treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are effective for many people with bulimia, a substantial proportion do not get better with talking therapies. There is a pressing need for new techniques and researchers are increasingly looking towards neuroscience-based technologies that could target the underlying neural basis of eating disorders, such as problems with reward processing or self-control.
Previous studies published by the Eating Disorders Research Group at King's found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), already an approved treatment for depression in the US, was effective in reducing food craving in people with bulimia.
This new study, published today in PLOS ONE, examined the use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a less expensive and more portable form of brain stimulation. tDCS uses electrodes placed on the head to stimulate specific parts of the brain, which could improve cognitive function in areas related to reward processing and self-control. The treatment is painless and the most common side effect is a slight itching or tingling on the scalp.
In the study, 39 people received real tDCS and placebo tDCS, with a period of at least 48 hours between both sessions. The researchers used questionnaires before and after each session to measure their urge to binge eat and a range of other bulimia symptoms, including concerns about weight and shape, restriction of food intake, levels of self-control and self-esteem.
They found that these bulimia symptoms were significantly reduced by the tDCS treatment but not the placebo session. For example, baseline scores on the urge to binge eat scale decreased by 31 per cent following tDCS.
The researchers also used a decision-making task where participants had to choose between a smaller amount of money available immediately and a larger amount available in three months.
They found that people showed a greater tendency to delay gratification following the tDCS session compared to the placebo session. This means they showed more prudent decision-making by waiting for larger, later rewards, rather than choosing the smaller, sooner option.
Maria Kekic, first author of the study, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, said: 'Our study suggests that a non-invasive brain stimulation technique suppresses the urge to binge eat and reduces the severity of other common symptoms in people with bulimia nervosa, at least temporarily. We think it does this by improving cognitive control over compulsive features of the disorder.
'Although these are modest, early findings, there is a clear improvement in symptoms and decision-making abilities following just one session of tDCS. With a larger sample and multiple sessions of treatment over a longer period of time, it is likely that the effects would be even stronger. This is something we're now looking to explore in future studies.'
Professor Ulrike Schmidt, senior author of the study, from the IoPPN at King's College London, said: 'The advantage of tDCS is that it's much less expensive and more portable than other brain stimulation techniques, which raises the prospect of one day offering treatment that could be self-delivered at home by patients with bulimia. This could either be as an addition to talking therapies such as CBT to improve outcomes, or as a stand-alone alternative approach.'
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170125145900.htm
Some veggies each day keeps the stress blues away
Women who eat their veggies at lower risk of psychological stress
March 15, 2017
Science Daily/University of Sydney
Eating three to four servings of vegetables daily is associated with a lower incidence of psychological stress, new research reveals.
Published in the British Medical Journal Open, the longitudinal study of more than 60,000 Australians aged 45 years and above measured participants fruit and vegetable consumption, lifestyle factors and psychological distress at two time points, 2006-08 and 2010.
Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, a 10-item questionnaire measuring general anxiety and depression. Usual fruit and vegetable consumption was assessed using short validated questions.
Key findings
People who ate 3-4 daily serves of vegetables had a 12 per cent lower risk of stress than those who ate 0-1 serves daily.
People who ate 5-7 daily serves of fruit and vegetables had a 14 per cent lower risk of stress than those who ate 0-4 serves daily.
Women who ate 3-4 daily serves of vegetables had an 18 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
Women who ate 2 daily serves of fruit had a 16 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
Women who ate 5-7 daily serves of fruit and vegetables had a 23 per cent lower risk of stress than women who ate 0-1 serves daily.
At the start of the study, characteristics associated with higher stress included: being female, younger, having lower education and income, being overweight/obese, a current smoker and being physically inactive.
Fruit consumption alone had no significant association with a lower incidence of stress.
There was no significant association between higher levels of fruit and vegetable intake (greater than 7 daily serves) and a lower incidence of stress.
"This study shows that moderate daily fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with lower rates of psychological stress," said Dr Melody Ding of the University of Sydney's School of Public Health.
"It also reveals that moderate daily vegetable intake alone is linked to a lower incidence of psychological stress. Moderate fruit intake alone appears to confer no significant benefit on people's psychological stress."
These new findings are consistent with numerous cross sectional and longitudinal studies showing that fruit and vegetables, together and separately, are linked with a lower risk of depression and higher levels of well-being assessed by several measures of mental health.
"We found that fruit and vegetables were more protective for women than men, suggesting that women may benefit more from fruit and vegetables," said first author and University of Sydney PhD student, Binh Nguyen.
The investigators say further studies should investigate the possibility of a 'threshold' between medium and higher levels of fruit and vegetable intake and psychological stress.
This research was based on data from the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170315094543.htm
Scientists are gauging how mood influences eating habits
Researchers have found a way to track how you feel when eating snacks or a meal
March 16, 2017
Science Daily/University of Southern California
Researchers are presenting details of how specially-programmed smartwatches monitor family member's emotions and eating behaviors for a study on obesity.
Many of us lie or can't remember what we ate when asked to reveal our eating habits, and that makes it difficult for doctors and researchers to guide us toward better diets and behaviors. But what if there was a way for them to monitor us?
Donna Spruijt-Metz, director of the mHealth Collaboratory at the USC Center for Economic and Social Research, and her team are testing an innovative approach to address obesity: devices that measure mood and eating behaviors rather than focusing on dietary intake.
"The three-day multiple pass dietary recall that asks people to remember what they ate is the gold standard for measuring food intake, but we can't accurately measure someone's diet or food intake," said Spruijt-Metz, a research professor of psychology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. "We really have no idea what people eat, because people lie. People don't remember."
In 2015, Spruijt-Metz, along with her colleagues John Stankovic and John Lach at the University of Virginia, and Kayla de la Haye at USC, received a $1.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study obesity and eating habits within families through wearable, mobile health devices.
The approach to monitoring mood and food, called M2FED, enables the researchers to detect eating behaviors and emotional responses of the study's participants. The researchers aim to develop a real-time intervention that could stop unhealthy behaviors and reduce obesity, which affects more than one-third of adults and 17 percent of all children and teens in the United States, according to federal health statistics.
Jessica Rayo, a California State University, Long Beach undergrad assisting on the project, presented details of the technology at this year's annual conference of the American Psychosomatic Society held this week in Spain.
Forget measuring dietary intake
"As a behaviorist, I began thinking that we do know that behaviors affect eating, such as the attitudes around the table, whether or not you are angry or if you are depressed or you don't like what your mother said," Spruijt-Metz said. "We can now reliably measure that with sensors. Forget measuring dietary intake."
Spruijt-Metz, along with the University of Virginia team, developed algorithms for this cyber-physical system to detect, based on audio data collected by in-home microphones, the mood of a study participant and his or her family.
The system also detects eating behaviors based on signals from a wrist-worn smartwatch. The devices are being programmed to improve accuracy through machine learning, allowing the researchers to increase the accuracy of their monitoring with each use.
Family members participating in the study wear the smartwatches on their wrists. The device sensors pick up wrist movements to detect a person's eating behaviors, including when, how long and how fast they eat, said Brooke Bell, a doctoral candidate in health behavior research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC who is involved in the project.
"We are also placing beacons -- small sensors -- around the home that can identify where someone is located in the home," Bell said.
Rayo, a research assistant on the project supported through a National Institutes of Health grant for biomedical, undergraduate research training, is helping to refine the protocols that will enable the research team to understand the family eating dynamics. She co-monitors the families' emotions while recording them in 15- to 20-minute sessions during which the families discuss topics that she suggests and eat. Rayo said she enters codes into Noldus Observer XT, the device software tracking the moods of the family.
One of the primary components of this system is the detection of conversation, stress and mood.
"One of the primary components of this system is the detection of conversation, stress and mood," Rayo said. "This system detects and models eating events and eating rate, mood and interpersonal interactions in home environments. The system includes sensors that capture acoustic signals and analyze the audio data for mood and stress."
Tested on participants -- five female and five male -- the devices can gauge the following moods with a high rate of accuracy:
• Anger (94.5 percent accuracy)
• Anxiety (95.7 percent accuracy)
• Boredom (97.5 percent accuracy)
• Happiness (88.7 percent accuracy
• Sadness (88.9 percent accuracy)
Spruijt said that the literature has shown that food intake and mood go hand in hand.
"There is scientific literature showing that people are stress eaters," she said. "The culture at home, within the family, can affect how people eat."
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170316093031.htm
Low-fat dairy linked to lower tendency towards depression
April 18, 2017
Science Daily/Tohoku University
People who consume low-fat milk and yogurt, rather than whole-fat dairy products, are less likely to have depression, according to researchers.
Dairy consumption has long been linked to a wide range of physical health benefits, but its effect on emotional health has remained unclear. Now, a new study published in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology reveals that people who consume low-fat dairy products may be less prone to depression
Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi of Tohoku University and colleagues in Japan and China investigated the association between whole and low-fat dairy consumption and depressive symptoms such as exhaustion, sadness, anxiety, helplessness and hopelessness. This is the first study to consider different components of dairy products (whole fat and low fat) and the occurrence of depression.
The study involved 1,159 Japanese adults between the ages of 19 and 83. There were 897 men and 262 women, of which 31.2% and 31.7% respectively, were depressed.
The researchers asked the participants in a questionnaire how often they consumed whole- or low-fat milk or yogurt. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the self-rating depression scale, which consists of 20 questions and is a tool to distinguish people with and without depression.
The result showed that people who consumed low-fat dairy products between one and four times a week are less depressed. The correlation remained even after considering other critical factors such as age, sex, health status, nutrition status and life style.
The study found no association between whole-fat milk consumption and depressive symptoms. The researchers speculate that this is because trans-fatty acid contained in whole fat milk, which is associated with depression, cancelled out the anti-depressive effect of another milk component, tryptophan.
The researchers note that since this was a cross-sectional study that analyzed a population at a single point in time, it could not explain what actually caused such outcomes. Other dairy products, such as cheese and butter, were not included in the study. It is also unclear whether milk or yogurt had a stronger influence. Further studies are necessary to confirm and clarify the causality of the findings.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170418114626.htm
Study shows differences in brain activity between men, women who are obese
May 19, 2017
Science Daily/University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences
A new study of obese people suggests that changes in their brains’ reward regions make them more prone to overeating, and that women and men exhibit different brain activity related to overeating.
Researchers from UCLA found that women who are obese showed more prominent changes in the reward system related to dopamine responsiveness, suggesting that emotion-related and compulsive eating play a larger role in their overeating. Men who are obese showed a different pattern of brain remodeling in sensorimotor regions, a sign that their eating behavior is affected by a greater awareness of gut sensations and visceral responses.
A new study of obese people suggests that changes in their brains' reward regions make them more prone to overeating, and that women and men exhibit different brain activity related to overeating.
Researchers from UCLA found that women who are obese showed more prominent changes in the reward system related to dopamine responsiveness, suggesting that emotion-related and compulsive eating play a larger role in their overeating. Men who are obese showed a different pattern of brain remodeling in sensorimotor regions, a sign that their eating behavior is affected by a greater awareness of gut sensations and visceral responses.
Background
Stress and drug use are known to affect how sex and sex hormones modulate the function of the mesolimbic dopamine system, which is involved in the reward system in the brain. It's possible that these factors lead to reduced dopamine signaling, according to research. Past studies have also demonstrated how altered processing of rewarding stimuli results in excessive eating. These new findings show that obesity has similar types of effects on the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Method
The researchers collected brain images from 124 individuals (61 males and 63 females) who did not have significant medical or psychiatric conditions. They then calculated how the brain's reward, sensorimotor, and salience -- the brain's way of making appropriate responses based on biological and cognitive stimuli -- networks are related to information flow. The individuals were divided into four groups based on their body mass index and sex: males with high BMI, males with normal BMI, females with high BMI and females with normal BMI.
Impact
A person's sex has not been sufficiently considered as a factor when it comes to devising a plan for treatment of obesity, according to the study's authors. This research is the first to examine sex-related differences in characterizing the prominence and signaling of brain regions in obesity. A better understanding of sex differences in obesity may allow medical professionals to more precisely tailor individual treatments.
Stress and drug use are known to affect how sex and sex hormones modulate the function of the mesolimbic dopamine system, which is involved in the reward system in the brain. It's possible that these factors lead to reduced dopamine signaling, according to research. Past studies have also demonstrated how altered processing of rewarding stimuli results in excessive eating. These new findings show that obesity has similar types of effects on the mesolimbic dopamine system.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170519084414.htm
Sleep loss affects your waistline
May 22, 2017
Science Daily/European Society of Endocrinology
Sleep loss increases the risk of obesity through a combination of effects on energy metabolism. This research will highlight how disrupted sleep patterns, a common feature of modern living, can predispose to weight gain, by affecting people’s appetite and responses to food and exercise.
In the 24/7 culture of the modern world, an increasing number of people report routine reduced quality of sleep and several studies have correlated sleep deprivation with weight gain. The underlying cause of increased obesity risk from sleep disruption is unclear but may relate to changes in appetite, metabolism, motivation, physical activity or a combination of factors.
Dr Christian Benedict from Uppsala University, Sweden and his group have conducted a number of human studies to investigate how sleep loss may affect energy metabolism. These human studies have measured and imaged behavioural, physiological and biochemical responses to food following acute sleep deprivation. The behavioural data reveal that metabolically healthy, sleep-deprived human subjects prefer larger food portions, seek more calories, exhibit signs of increased food-related impulsivity, experience more pleasure from food, and expend less energy.
The group’s physiological studies indicate that sleep loss shifts the hormonal balance from hormones that promote fullness (satiety), such as GLP-1, to those that promote hunger, such as ghrelin. Sleep restriction also increased levels of endocannabinoids, which is known to have appetite-promoting effects. Further work from Dr Benedict’s team shows that acute sleep loss alters the balance of gut bacteria, which has been widely implicated as key for maintaining a healthy metabolism. The same study also found reduced sensitivity to insulin after sleep loss.
Dr Christian Benedict remarks, “Since perturbed sleep is such a common feature of modern life, these studies show it is no surprise that metabolic disorders, such as obesity are also on the rise.”
Although Dr Benedict’s work has shed light on how short periods of sleep loss can affect energy metabolism, longer-term studies are needed to validate these findings. The group are now investigating longer-term effects and also whether extending sleep in habitual short sleepers can restore these alterations in appetite and energy metabolism.
Dr Christian Benedict says, “My studies suggest that sleep loss favours weight gain in humans. It may also be concluded that improving sleep could be a promising lifestyle intervention to reduce the risk of future weight gain.”
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170522081109.htm
Physicians and burnout: It's getting worse
December 1, 2015
Science Daily/Mayo Clinic
Burnout among U.S. physicians is getting worse. An update from a three-year study evaluating burnout and work-life balance shows that American physicians are worse off today than they were three years earlier. These dimensions remained largely unchanged among U.S. workers in general, resulting in a widening gap between physicians and workers in other fields. The study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers in partnership with the American Medical Association compared data from 2014 to metrics they collected in 2011 and found that now more than half of U.S. physicians are experiencing professional burnout. The findings appear in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
"Burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, loss of meaning in work, and feelings of ineffectiveness," says Tait Shanafelt, M.D. "What we found is that more physicians in almost every specialty are feeling this way and that's not good for them, their families, the medical profession, or patients."
The researchers say evidence indicates that burnout leads to poor care, physician turnover and a decline in the overall quality of the health care system. In the 2011 survey 45 percent of physicians met the burnout criteria, with highest rates occurring in the "front lines" -- general internal medicine, family medicine and emergency medicine. In 2014, 54 percent of responding physicians had at least one symptom of burnout. Satisfaction with work-life balance also declined. The survey results were based on 6,880 physicians across the United States, a 19 percent response rate, as well as a population based sample of 5313 working U.S. adults in other fields.
In a snapshot:
• Physician burnout is up 10 percent over the last three years
• Burnout rates are up across almost all specialties
• No overall increase in physician work hours was reported
• No increase in rates of depression was observed among physicians
Researchers say the problem of physician burnout is largely a system issue and that health care organizations have a shared responsibility in addressing the problem. They say more needs to be done by healthcare organizations to help physicians by improving the efficiency of the practice environment, reducing clerical burden, and providing physicians greater flexibility and control over work.
What must be done:
• Urgent need for research to provide "evidence-based interventions" addressing burnout, including improving efficiency
• Factors in the practice or work environment have to change
• Offering self-help solutions is no longer enough
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151201093513.htm
Your self-image may influence how you set goals, research shows
December 3, 2015
Science Daily/Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School
The ways that people view themselves have been the focus of recent research. Someone with an “independent” self-image sees himself as distinct from others, while a person with an “interdependent” view of himself aims to fit into the social structure and maintain harmonious relations with others.
You're a careful eater, avoiding high-calorie snacks and meals as a rule. But one day at the lunch counter, instead of ordering the usual salad, you're tempted by a cheeseburger. Will you give in?
The answer, according to a recent study from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, may be influenced by whether you view yourself as more or less of an independent type, and whether you generally try to be ambitious or maintain the status quo.
It's information that not only could help individuals set goals they may reasonably hope to achieve but also could guide marketers in matching a product to a particular audience.
In their paper, lead author Haiyang Yang of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and his two co-authors examine two kinds of "self-construal" -- that is, how people view themselves. Someone with an "independent" self-image sees himself as distinct from others, while a person with an "interdependent" view of himself aims to fit into the social structure and maintain harmonious relations with others.
Additionally, the paper identifies two kinds of goals -- those of "attainment" and of "maintenance." Someone with attainment goals seeks to reach a desired state, by losing weight, for example, or adding to a savings account. A person with maintenance goals would seek to keep his weight and savings account at least at their current levels.
Yang and his colleagues say that while previous studies have looked separately at self-construal and goals, their paper is among the first to look at how the two concepts jointly influence consumer behavior. Through six experiments involving more than 2,000 participants in the United States and China, the researchers found that compared to people with a predominately interdependent self-construal, those with a predominately independent self-construal tend to be motivated more by goals of attainment and the accompanying potential for advancement and distinction. However, the more interdependent individuals tend to be motivated more by maintenance goals that emphasize stability and continuity.
"In one of our studies," Yang said in an interview, "we observed people's real-life bodyweight goal pursuit behaviors (that is, losing vs. maintaining bodyweight) over a period of 13 months. We found that people who had fewer social ties, and hence were more independent, were more likely to set the goal of reducing as opposed to maintaining bodyweight. Further, after people set their weight-management goals, the more independent individuals were more motivated, as measured by the amount of the money they were willing to bet on their success, to pursue weight-loss goals as opposed to weight-maintenance goals."
The researchers also found that appeals to a person's sense of independence or interdependence can influence how goals are set. When study participants were asked about a series of possible actions -- adding to a savings account, losing weight, and increasing their college grade-point averages -- their motivation for attaining a better state was greater when the actions were posed as benefitting them as individuals, as opposed to benefitting their close social groups (relatives and friends). The opposite pattern emerged for the maintenance-goal version of the actions.
Companies should consider these findings when marketing products and services internationally, with an eye to whether the national culture leans toward independence or interdependence, Yang and his co-authors assert. They state in the paper: "Marketing practitioners should consider engineering purchase environments or consumption contexts to activate respective self-construal, nudging consumers toward goals congruent with firms' marketing objectives and hence increasing the likelihood of consumers' adoption of those consumption goals."
The researchers further assert that consumers can practice the same kind of leverage on themselves by matching their goals to their self-construal (as independent or interdependent people) and thus increasing the motivation to bring their actions to successful and satisfying conclusions.
"Pursuing Attainment versus Maintenance Goals: The Interplay of Self-Construal and Goal Type on Consumer Motivation" was written by Haiyang Yang of Johns Hopkins, Antonios Stamatogiannakis of IE Business School, and Amitava Chattopadhyay of INSEAD. The paper was published in June in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151203142711.htm
To earn gratitude, put some effort into it
Pay it forward: Small favors can yield large returns
December 7, 2015
Science Daily/University of Southern California
When done with high effort, the trivial courtesy of holding the door for others can inspire a 'thank you' or a favor in return, creating a virtuous cycle of gratitude, research shows.
Their responses appeared to depend on the door holder's effort, according to scientists at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC. If the door holder made a high effort by making eye contact, smiling and holding open the door, more recipients would say "thank you," researchers found. If the door holder who made a high effort had dropped some pens while trying to hold open the door, the recipient was more likely to stop and help pick them up.
The moral of this study is that "small favors can have a sizable influence on our behavior, inspiring us to spend energy to help others and lending credence to the idea that we have a drive to 'pay it forward,'" said USC neuroscience and psychology researcher Glenn Fox, who led the study published online on Nov. 12 in Frontiers In Psychology.
"This study shows that gratitude has consequences," said Antonio Damasio, director of the BCI and Dornsife Neuroimaging Institute at USC, and professor of psychology and neurology at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
"It is not only the recipient of the act or gift who gains; it is also the doer or giver," Damasio added. "When you are courteous to another person, or when you offer gifts, you are doing something that is good for you. Interestingly, it can be rewarding for yourself, and it can reduce stress. It can actually be good for your health."
For this study, Fox said he wanted to see how a courtesy such as door-holding results in reciprocation ranging from a "thank you" to even larger acts of repayment. To test his hypothesis, USC students involved in the study opened doors for more than 300 strangers as part of two experiments.
In the first study, door holders who made a high effort -- smiling and making eye contact with the strangers they were helping -- were told "thank you" more often than the door holders who behaved passively as they propped open the door with low effort, checking text messages on their cell phones. After the door-holding test, participants were asked by another experimenter to take a time-consuming survey.
Of the 120 study participants, 24 thanked the door holder. Most of those were in cases where door holders made a high effort, the researchers said. "Although the participants in the high-effort condition were not more likely to take the survey than those in the low-effort, our field notes showed they were more polite and cordial when asked about the survey," Fox said.
For the second study, researchers studied whether people will also return the favor somehow. Door holders in this experiment were toting a file box that had 12 pens on top that spilled out sometime after opening the door.
Who said "thank you," and stopped and helped? Again, researchers found the response depended on the door holder's effort.
Ninety-seven participants of 194 thanked the door holders. Most -- more than 84 percent -- were thanking a door holder who made a high effort.
Fifty-four of the 194 participants helped the door holders pick up their pens. Most participants -- 64 percent -- were helping door holders who had made a high effort, versus 19 percent who assisted door holders who had made a low effort.
The findings were two-fold: The study shows a small favor can inspire reciprocal acts. At the same time, researchers recognized that people do not feel obligated to say "thank you" or help, even when they have received a favor. "We see for the first time that verbal thanking and reciprocal helping are not inherently correlated," the researchers noted.
The study raises several other questions. Researchers said other studies should examine how eye contact, the type of favor and other such factors may influence recipients' responses.
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151207100047.htm
Breaking bread with colleagues boosts productivity
December 7, 2015
Science Daily/Cornell University
Plenty of companies invest big money to provide their employees with upscale workplace eateries or at least catered meals. But are those companies getting a good return on their investment? According to a new study, the answer is yes.
https://images.sciencedaily.com/2015/12/151207151253_1_540x360.jpg
Plenty of companies invest big money to provide their employees with upscale workplace eateries or at least catered meals. But are those companies getting a good return on their investment? According to a new Cornell University study, the answer is yes.
Credit: Cornell University Food and Brand Lab
In research that could have implications for organizations looking to enhance team performance, Cornell professors found that firefighter platoons who eat meals together have better group job performance compared with firefighter teams who dine solo.
"Eating together is a more intimate act than looking over an Excel spreadsheet together. That intimacy spills back over into work," said the study's author, Kevin Kniffin, visiting assistant professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. "From an evolutionary anthropology perspective, eating together has a long, primal tradition as a kind of social glue. That seems to continue in today's workplaces."
Given the findings, organizations would do better to consider their expenditures on cafeterias as investments in employee performance, Kniffin said.
"Eating Together at the Firehouse: How Workplace Commensality Relates to the Performance of Firefighters" appears in the current issue of Human Performance and is featured in the Harvard Business Review's December issue.
Over the course of 15 months, Kniffin and his colleagues conducted interviews and surveys in a large city's fire department, which included more than 50 firehouses. The researchers asked the department's 395 supervisors to rate on a scale of zero to 10 the performance of their platoon compared to other fire companies in which they've served. The supervisors were also asked how often the platoon eats together in a typical four-day work week. The platoons who ate together most often also got higher marks for their team performance. Conversely, the platoons that did not eat together got lower performance ratings.
In interviews, firefighters said daily group meals were a central activity during their shifts. Some firefighters who worked a shift that started at 6 p.m. often ate two dinners, one at home and a second at the firehouse. One firefighter said, in the company of his co-workers, "you don't want to dis the wife" by turning down the food she prepared -- implying that it was just as important to avoid disrespecting his co-workers. "To me, that's a good example of the importance of the group. It's comparable to his family," said Kniffin, whose father was a longtime big-city firefighter.
In fact, the researchers noted, firefighters expressed a certain embarrassment when asked about firehouses where they didn't eat together. "It was basically a signal that something deeper was wrong with the way the group worked," Kniffin said.
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151207151253.htm
Best crisis managers are not what you would expect
January 8, 2016
Science Daily/British Psychological Society (BPS)
The most effective crisis managers show strong preferences for variety at work and keep their cool when operating outside of their comfort zones. Those who demonstrate more self-discipline and stick to the rules are considered less effective at dealing with a crisis.
These are the findings from research presented by Chartered Psychologist Christine D'Silva, from assessment consultancy Cubiks at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society's Division of Occupational Psychology in Nottingham.
Lead researcher Christine D'Silva said: "In a crisis situation, things change at a rapid pace, with new information arriving at any time.
Decisions that have far reaching consequences need to be made within short timeframes. Our research, using simulations to recreate these stressful and tense scenarios, suggests that those who retain their cool whilst operating outside their comfort zones, and are comfortable with ambiguous situations, are more effective crisis managers."
The research, a preliminary and exploratory study, was established to determine whether psychological assessments such as PAPI could be of benefit in selecting and training candidates for a role in crisis management. 82 participants took part in disaster simulation exercises and were asked to complete a series of personality questionnaires. Then they were assessed on their performance by experts.
The results from the study confirm that personality assessment can make a useful contribution to identifying and training crisis management personnel. The key areas to assess are leadership, extraversion and emotional stability. Furthermore, specific predictor scales, including those assessing 'variety seeking', 'self-discipline' and 'need for rules' enhance prognosis.
Christine D'Silva said: "In our strained world, the threat of attack on organisations and public safety is ever present. The potential threats to life and livelihood posed by natural disasters, man made errors and acts of terrorism appear to be well appreciated. Until now, the calibre of the person who is most suited to managing these unpredictable situations has been less well understood."
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160108084435.htm
Modern office environment makes most people uncomfortable
January 8, 2016
Science Daily/British Psychological Society (BPS)
Personality has a big impact on the type of office environment people prefer to work in. Modern features such as hot-desking and open-plan floors appeal mainly to extraverted workers with others finding them uncomfortable.
This is one of the findings of a study by John Hackston, Head of Research at business psychologists OPP, who presents his findings today, Friday 8 January 2016, at the British Psychological Society Division of Occupational Psychology's annual conference in Nottingham.
John Hackston said: "Despite changes in technology many people still work in an office. Understanding how personality interacts with the office environment is key to improving job satisfaction and productivity.
Over 300 people (71 per cent female and average age 47 years) completed an online survey about their current office environments. The participants had previously completed a personality test to ascertain their personality type.
The results showed that many features of the modern office were much more likely to be preferred by extraverts than by introverts. Extraverts were significantly happier at work and had higher levels of job satisfaction. Personality differences were also shown to be behind areas of conflict in the office, such as people's reactions to the idea of a clear desk policy. Some features were desired by almost everyone, such as having your own desk and working area, having well-designed workplaces and having 'quiet areas' available. Others, such as desk-sharing or hot-desking, were disliked by most people.
John Hackston said: "These results support previous research into the unpopularity of open-plan offices and hot-desking and the positive effects of personalisation. However, there are some simple changes that can be made to improve staff satisfaction and increase productivity.
"These include allowing staff more storage for personal items when hot-desking; creating smaller neighbourhoods within open-plan offices; not overdoing clear desk policies as clearing away all personal items can be demotivating to some people and providing quiet zones for people to work in when needed."
Science Daily/SOURCE :http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160108084435.htm
When the boss's ethical behavior breaks bad
February 12, 2016
Science Daily/Michigan State University
Is your boss ethical? Does he or she do what's right, as opposed to what's profitable? If so, they may turn downright abusive the next day. New research on leader behavior suggests ethical conduct leads to mental exhaustion and the "moral licensing" to lash out at employees.
New research on leader behavior by Russell Johnson, associate professor of management at Michigan State University, suggests ethical conduct leads to mental exhaustion and the "moral licensing" to lash out at employees.
The study, online in the Journal of Applied Psychology, is called "When ethical leader behavior breaks bad: How ethical behavior can turn abusive via ego depletion and moral licensing." Moral licensing is a phenomenon in which people, after doing something good, feel they have earned the right to act in a negative manner.
"Ironically, when leaders felt mentally fatigued and morally licensed after displays of ethical behavior, they were more likely to be abusive toward their subordinates on the next day," said Johnson, an expert on the psychology of the workplace.
Johnson and MSU students Szu-Han Lin and Jingjing Ma surveyed 172 supervisors over a several-day period in various industries including retail, education, manufacturing and health care. The goal: examine the consequences of ethical behavior for the leaders who exhibited it.
Johnson said it's not easy to be ethical, as it turns out. "Being ethical means leaders often have to suppress their own self-interest (they must do 'what's right' as opposed to 'what's profitable'), and they have to monitor not only the performance outcomes of subordinates but also the means (to ensure that ethical/appropriate practices were followed)."
Ethical behavior led to mental fatigue and moral licensing, and this led to leaders being more abusive to their workers. The abuse included ridiculing, insulting and expressing anger toward employees, giving them the silent treatment and reminding them of past mistakes or failures.
To combat mental fatigue, Johnson said managers should build in time for breaks during the workday; get sufficient sleep; eat healthy and exercise; and unplug from work outside of the office (which includes shutting off the smart phone at night).
Dealing with moral licensing is trickier, as there is not much research on the subject. However, Johnson suggested companies could consider formally requiring ethical behavior. "If such behavior is required, then it's more difficult for people to feel they've earned credit for performing something that is mandatory," he said. "A sense of moral license is more likely when people feel they voluntarily or freely exhibited the behavior."
Ethical behavior could also be formally rewarded with social praise or money. But the praise or bonus should come relatively soon after the ethical behavior in order to counteract the moral licensing, Johnson said.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160212130145.htm
Research reveals workplace interventions to combat burnout, work-related stress
March 7, 2016
Science Daily/Leeds Beckett University
A report has reviewed the most effective ways to treat and prevent burnout and work-related stress, and revealed organizational interventions in the workplace may be more effective than individual interventions alone.
The report, commissioned by Public Health England and prepared by the Centre for Health Promotion Research at Leeds Beckett, provides an overview of how individual and workplace interventions can prevent burnout and work-related stress.
The review is one of four commissioned by Public Health England exploring priority -- but generally under-explored -- issues around health, work and unemployment.
Findings from the report suggest that:
• Interventions designed to reduce symptoms and impact on burnout and work-related stress were conducted more often at an individual or small-group level than at an organisational level.
• Individual level interventions that can reduce burnout include staff training, workshops and cognitive-behavioural programmes.
• Changing aspects of an organisation's culture and working practices might be considered alongside individual level interventions to more effectively prevent burnout.
• Changes to workload or working practices appear to reduce stressors and factors that can lead to burnout.
• Evidence suggests that organisational interventions produce longer-lasting effects than individual approaches.
• Organisational interventions in the workplace may be more effective than individual interventions alone.
• Combining individual and organisational level approaches includes a system change that adopts a participatory environment, promotes open communication, manager and peer support, a culture of learning and successful participation of employees in planning and implementation of programmes.
Estimates from the Labour Force Survey in 2013-14 suggested that the total number of cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounts for 39% of all cases of work-related illnesses. Occupations with the highest reported rates of work-related stress were health professionals (in particular nurses), teaching and education professionals and caring personal services (in particular welfare and housing associate professionals).
Dr James Woodall, Reader in Health Promotion at Leeds Beckett, said: "Although there is existing evidence on what works to treat burnout and work-related stress, there is less on what works to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
"In undertaking this research, we found some evidence that individual interventions including staff training, workshops and cognitive-behavioural programmes can reduce burnout. There is also some evidence to suggest that organisational interventions, such as changes to workload or working practices, produce longer-lasting reductions in stressors and factors that can lead to burnout than individual approaches.
"We found that most existing research focused on large-scale organisations with few examples of interventions in small or medium-sized working environments. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 59.3% of private sector employment in the UK, therefore further research is needed to determine what works in small to medium-sized workplaces."
Dr Anne-Marie Bagnall, Reader in the School of Health & Wellbeing at Leeds Beckett, added: "Understanding how burnout and work-related stress can be prevented and treated in workplaces is of great importance both from a public health perspective and for businesses aiming to reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.
"Workplace health and worklessness are a corporate priority for Public Health England (PHE), as employment is a wider determinant of health. Burnout is associated with adverse health outcomes associated with stress, such as depression, musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature mortality."
Dr Justin Varney, Interim Deputy Director for Health & Wellbeing (Healthy People), Public Health England, said: "This evidence review highlights workplaces as a key setting for improving people's mental and physical health, as well as their overall wellbeing. Having a healthy workforce can reduce sickness absence, lower staff turnover and boost productivity. Employers can't afford to wait until staff burnout happens; it is in their interest to implement healthy interventions which can prevent the main causes of it, including stress and musculoskeletal conditions."
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160307191029.htm
How shift work effect cognitive functions
May 17, 2016
Science Daily/Uppsala University
A new study shows that compared to non-shift workers, shift workers needed more time to complete a test that is frequently used by physicians to screen for cognitive impairment. However, those who had quit shift work more than five years ago completed the test just as quick as the non-shift workers.
By utilizing data from around 7000 individuals participating in the Swedish cohort study EpiHealth, researchers from Uppsala University and Malmö University sought to examine whether shift work history would be linked to performance. The test that was used is called the "Trail Making Test," which consists of two parts. Part A requires participants to connect circles labeled with numbers 1-25 in an ascending order. In part B, participants must alternate between numbers and letters in an ascending order. Time to complete these tests has been shown to increase with age.
'Our results indicate that shift work is linked to poorer performance on a test that is frequently used to screen for cognitive impairment in humans', says Christian Benedict, associate professor at the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University and corresponding author of the study.
'The poorer performance was only observed in current shift workers and those who worked shifts during the past 5 years. In contrast, no difference was observed between non-shift workers and those who had quit shift work more than 5 years ago. The latter could suggest that it may take at least 5 years for previous shift workers to recover brain functions that are relevant to the performance on this test', says Christian Benedict.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160517101345.htm
Dull and dirty: Your workplace could affect brain function
June 16, 2016
Science Daily/Florida State University
Both a lack of stimulation in the workplace and a dirty working environment can have a long-term cognitive effect on employees, new research indicates.
"Psychologists say that the brain is a muscle, while industrial hygienists point to chemicals in the work environment that may cause decline," said Joseph Grzywacz, the Norejane Hendrickson Professor of Family and Child Sciences and lead researcher on the study.
"There are real things in the workplace that can shape cognitive function: some that you can see or touch, and others you can't. We showed that both matter to cognitive health in adulthood."
In the past, researchers had been divided on whether it was working in an unclean workplace -- facing exposure to agents such as mold, lead or loud noises -- or working in an unstimulating environment that took the biggest toll on brain health as people aged.
This new study is significant because it showed both can play an important role in long-term cognitive well-being.
Grzywacz' findings are published in the June issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Grzywacz and his team obtained cognitive function data from working adults participating in the Midlife in the United States study. Their results had two major takeaways: One was that greater occupational complexity -- that is the learning of new skills and taking on new challenges -- resulted in stronger cognitive performance particularly for women as they aged.
The second result was that men and women who had jobs that exposed them to a dirty working environment saw a cognitive decline.
"Both of these issues are important when we think about the long-term health of men and women," said Grzywacz, who also serves as the chair of the Department of Family and Child Sciences.
Grzywacz and colleagues analyzed the data to examine individuals' workplaces and their ability to maintain and later use information they learned. They also looked at their executive functioning skills such as their ability to complete tasks, manage time and pay attention. Additionally, the data included responses from participants asking them about any memory issues they were experiencing.
"The practical issue here is cognitive decline associated with aging and the thought of, 'if you don't use it, you lose it,'" Grzywacz said. "Designing jobs to ensure that all workers have some decision making ability may protect cognitive function later in life, but it's also about cleaning up the workplace."
The data included 4,963 adults ages 32 to 84 from the 48 contiguous states. The sample was 47 percent male and 53 percent female.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160616165945.htm
Power causes distrust
June 16, 2016
Science Daily/Leiden, Universiteit
When leaders punish subordinates, they often do this out of distrust. They are afraid of losing their position and use punishment as a deterrent. However, their punishments are not very effective, says a social and organizational psychologist.
Distrust is the main reason why leaders impose punishments on the people over whom they have power. This is clearly demonstrated by Marlon Mooijman's PhD research. 'Leaders expect other people not to obey the rules, and punish them on the basis of this distrust.' Ironically, it turns out that these punishments are not very effective and perhaps even exacerbate the situation, continues Mooijman. 'When people feel distrusted, they are less likely to obey the rules. They see this assumption on the part of the leaders as a sign of disrespect. It also violates an implicit social contract: 'If you treat me well, I will act accordingly.''
Acting out of fear
'Leaders are people who control valuable resources. A manager can decide whether an employee gets a bonus, for instance. A judge can decide whether or not someone keeps their freedom.' But why are leaders so distrustful? Mooijman suggests that they are afraid of losing their power, and act out of the desire to protect that power. 'Leaders are afraid that if they are too trusting of others, this trust can be abused. This would then, of course, threaten their position.'
Plagiarism and fraud
The consequence is that leaders mainly use punishment as a deterrent, to ensure that similar rule breaking never happens again. Unfortunately, punishments of this kind do not have the desired effect. 'We see that some power systems can actually exacerbate the problems.' This particularly relates to issues such as unethical behaviour, plagiarism and fraud.
Manipulating the sense of power
Mooijman asked people with power to complete questionnaires. He also conducted experiments in the Faculty lab with groups of students, who were temporarily assigned to a manager position. 'I also manipulated their sense of having power. Students were asked to write about an incident in which they felt very powerful, or conversely very powerless. They then had to decide how someone who had committed plagiarism should be punished. Students who had been made to feel powerful were found to favour punishments designed to make an example of the offenders. The deterrent aspect was important, and some were even prepared to publicly name the people who had committed plagiarism.'
Financial crisis
Compliance with rules is important in society. An example is the recent financial crisis, which was caused by rule breaking. Mooijman: 'This is why it's important to know when power structures help to prevent unethical behaviour. My research makes a contribution to this.'
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160616072158.htm
Study explores emotional intelligence and stress in social work
June 27, 2016
Science Daily/University of East Anglia
Realistic workloads and ongoing emotional support are essential if social workers are to manage stress and perform their job effectively, according to new research. The study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence -- the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others -- stress, burnout and social work practice. It also assessed whether emotional intelligence training for social workers would reduce their burnout rates over time.
The study by the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF) examined the relationship between emotional intelligence -- the ability to identify and manage emotions in oneself and others -- stress, burnout and social work practice. It also assessed whether emotional intelligence training for social workers would reduce their burnout rates over time.
It is known that the rate of work related stress and burnout among social workers is high compared to similar professions. This contributes to high vacancy rates, particularly in the areas of child care, young people and families, which has consequences for colleagues and those the service is trying to help.
Emotional intelligence training is offered by some local authorities but there is little consistent evidence to show the benefits of such interventions on practice. This UEA study involved 209 child and family social workers across eight local authorities in England. The researchers found that the training received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, but it did not show any statistically significant effect on stress and burnout after the training. One possible reason for little effect of training on stress and burnout is that few participants used the training tools in practice. The researchers suggest that embedding training and follow-ups into supervision systems is likely to improve the transfer of training into practice.
Key organisational predictors of stress and burnout were: work demands, resource provision, training provision, leader and peer support. The key psychological predictor of stress and burnout was emotional intelligence.
The researchers recommend that if social workers are to be most effective, it is essential that they have realistic workloads and good administrative support, and that the demands for more recording and regulation should come with provision of sufficient resources.
The findings are presented in a report launched at CRCF's annual conference in London. Entitled 'Emotional intelligence, and burnout in child and family social work: implications for policy and practice', it makes recommendations for policymakers, local authorities and social workers about how to manage stress and burnout in the profession. The three-year project was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Lead author Dr Laura Biggart, a lecturer in social science research and psychology, said social workers are meant to get reflective supervision -- talking with others about their own experiences to improve the way they work -- but this often gets squeezed out by other demands.
"The study confirmed that social work is an emotionally demanding profession, suggesting that particular attention should be given by social work employers to the workplace environment and social worker support," said Dr Biggart. "Workload is an issue for all authorities and the emotional demands of this type of work need to be taken into account. Finding ways to reduce stress at work would have benefits for employees, employers and service users.
"Social workers have a positive role to play in the lives of children from troubled and abusive backgrounds. Many young people themselves speak positively about the help they have received from their social workers. In order to sustain social workers in post and make the most of the economic investment made in them through training and post-qualifying experience, policy makers need to take account of the emotional demands of this profession, alongside workload issues."
The report's key recommendations include:
• Acknowledging the emotional demands in social work and strategies for managing these should be provided within qualifying social work training and continuing professional development.
• Senior managers should ensure there are clear systems to hear the views of social workers about workload issues and to provide feedback as to what action has been taken to address such issues.
• Senior managers need to establish regular systems to monitor stress in their workplace and involve their team managers and social workers in finding solutions to workload issues and improving the workplace environment.
• Team managers should ensure that social workers have the opportunity for reflective supervision.
• Team members should be encouraged to jointly problem solve on complex issues/cases.
• For social workers, a range of effective coping strategies are outlined.
Dr Biggart said: "The role of child and family social workers involves witnessing trauma and neglect and the consequences of these on vulnerable children and families. They are increasingly working in settings where resources are often restricted and work in frequently changing organisational structures with consequent changes in team membership.
"Given the emotional demands of the social work role, enhancing emotional intelligence resources could be one way of providing social workers with the skills required to cope with these various, and potentially stressful, issues."
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627214253.htm
Narcissistic superior can be a good leader
June 27, 2016
Science Daily/University of Vaasa
Narcissistic leaders seem to get good assessments from their subordinates, new research shows. However, it was noticed that the more narcissistic features the leader had the less time he/she had been in the position. The results also show that the narcissistic leaders don’t seem to suffer from burnout symptoms.
According to a new study from the University of Vaasa the narcissistic leaders seem to get good assessments from their subordinates. However, it was noticed that the more narcissistic features the leader had the less time he/she had been in the position. The results also show that the narcissistic leaders don't seem to suffer from burnout symptoms.
M.Sc Hanna Peltokangas studies in her dissertation the association between leaders' personality, job performance and burnout.
The dissertation takes a psychological perspective on leadership because also leaders may behave irrationally, have personality problems or neuroses, and many unnoticed forces may affect their behavior. Peltokangas points out that it is a different thing to explain a behavior than just describe it.
"Therefore the underlying mental activity, anxieties, personality, and defenses should be evaluated and not just focus on traits that are very easy to observe even in a stranger," Peltokangas says.
Work performance can be predicted
The leader's work performance can be predicted if the assessment process is made with good assessment methods. According to Peltokangas, the organizations would have less problems if they would stress the assessment process more.
However, it should be noticed that the leader's performance and personality should always fit to the environment. It should be taken into consideration that there are different demands and challenges in different organizations and positions.
Data was collected with the psychological personality assessment methods.
Peltokangas has collected the data with different personality tests. The main assessment methods were Work Personality Inventory, WOPI and Rorschach inkpot test and it's contemporary analysis method Comprehensive System (RCS).
There were totally 96 leaders and 203 subordinates in this study.
Do narcissism and leadership go hand in hand?
The media gives the impression that almost all the leaders have narcissistic features. According to this study, there are more narcissistic persons among leaders than in other occupations but it is exaggeration to say that narcissism and leadership would go hand in hand.
Surprisingly, the results supported the view that the more narcissism-like features the leader possessed, the better the performance. Because of this unexpected result, the topic was investigated more deeply and it was found that the more reflection answers the leaders recorded, the less time they had served in their current position.
"Based on this study it seems that narcissistic leaders' performances might be good only because they had been in their positions for very short periods and had made good first impressions," Peltokangas says.
From the burnout perspective it was interesting to notice that the narcissistic leaders don't seem to suffer from burnout symptoms. On the other hand, very creative leaders may experience more burnout symptoms than the other leaders.
The results of this study offer some practical implications that should be taken into consideration for example in the recruitment and coaching processes. However, as Peltokangas points out, it is important to remember the recommendation about using multi-method tools, so no method should be used alone but as part of the method toolkit.
Science Daily/SOURCE :https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160627095314.htm