ABSTRACT
Stress has a negative impact on cognitive functioning and occupational well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship among perceived stress, cognitive complaints and work engagement in public employees from Córdoba, Argentina. In this cross-sectional study, self-report questionnaires were administered to 240 participants. Spanish versions of the following instruments were used: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Memory Failures in Everyday (MFE), Executive Complaint Questionnaire (ECQ). Statistical analysis included ANOVA, path analysis, and multiple logistic regression. Stressed workers showed lower work engagement and more cognitive complaints, even after adjusting for demographic variables. Negative associations were also observed between work engagement and cognitive complaints, suggesting that cognitive difficulties are related to engagement. Given the relation among stress, cognition, and work engagement, it is important to consider these factors to foster workers' health and work productivity.
ABSTRACT
Background: Hearing results from processes of modulation of the acoustic signal performed by the auditory pathway and cortical activity. Sound detection, location, discrimination, intelligibility in noise and silence require integrity of the auditory system. Objective: To recognize the auditory variability in competent users and examine the relationship of auditory processing abilities with peripheral sensitivity. Methods: 97 normal-hearing participants with comprehensive listening in a second language and/or music were studied with the Spanish version of the Amsterdam Inventory for Auditory Disability and Handicap (S-AIADH), audiometry and impedanciometry. Correlations between S-AIADH scores and audiometric tonal and acoustic thresholds were calculated. Results: Scores in sound distinction, intelligibility in noise and location showed the greatest dispersion. Auditory processing abilities did not correlate significantly with acoustic thresholds and reflexes, except for the intelligibility in noise that was positively associated with the tonal threshold at frequencies 500 and 1000 Hz in both ears. Conclusion: These results indicate a paradox, which reinforces the differentiation between hearing and listening. For a comprehensive approach, the study of hearing requires addressing both peripheral and central auditory processing, where the use of self-report instruments is important.
Introducción: la audición resulta de procesos de modulación de la señal acústica que realiza la vía auditiva y la actividad cortical. La detección de los sonidos, localización, discriminación, inteligibilidad del habla en ruido y en silencio requieren de la integridad funcional del sistema auditivo. Objetivo: reconocer la variabilidad auditiva en usuarios competentes y examinar la relación de las habilidades del procesamiento auditivo con la sensibilidad periférica. Métodos: un total de 97 participantes normoacúsicos con antecedentes de escucha comprensiva en una segunda lengua y/o música fueron valorados con el Inventario de Ámsterdam para la Discapacidad y Rendimiento Auditivo versión español (S-AIADH), audiometría e impedanciometría. Se calcularon las correlaciones entre los puntajes del S-AIADH y los umbrales tonales audiométricos y del reflejo estapedial. Resultados: los subtotales intratest con mayor dispersión pertenecen a la distinción de sonidos, inteligibilidad en ruido y localización. Las habilidades del procesamiento auditivo no se correlacionaron significativamente con los umbrales de detección de sonido y los reflejos estapediales, a excepción de la inteligibilidad en ruido que se asoció positivamente con el umbral tonal en las frecuencias 500 y 1000 Hz en ambos oídos. Conclusión: Estos resultados indican una paradoja, lo cual refuerza la diferenciación entre oír y escuchar. Para un abordaje integral, el estudio de la audición requiere de abordar tanto el procesamiento auditivo periférico como el central, donde el uso de instrumentos de autorreporte es de gran importancia.