Porcentaje de grasa corporal, inteligencia emocional y rasgos de personalidad en hombres y mujeres trabajadores / Body fat percentage, emotional intelligence, and personality traits in working men and women

Introducción: el exceso de peso en las personas tiene implicaciones negativas en la productividad laboral. La in-teligencia emocional y los rasgos de personalidad han mostrado diferencias entre personas con peso normal y con exceso de peso (de acuerdo con el IMC). Sin embargo, la evidencia de asociaciones con indicadores más objetivos como el porcentaje de grasa corporal es escasa. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar si existe relación entre el por-centaje de grasa corporal, la inteligencia emocional y los rasgos de personalidad en población joven trabajadora.Método: se realizó un estudio transversal-analítico en 125 jóvenes de Xalapa, Veracruz, México, con edad promedio de 24.6 años (DEedad±2.6). Se aplicó un cuestionario de datos sociodemográficos, la Escala de Inteligencia Emocional (EQ-i-M20), el Inventario de Rasgos de Personalidad (BFI-15p) y se midió el porcentaje de grasa corporal mediante análisis de bioimpedancia.Resultados: la inteligencia emocional y los rasgos de personalidad presentan diferencias entre los sexos. Las muje-res presentan menor inteligencia emocional y mayor neuroticismo que los hombres. En la muestra total, se identi-ficaron como predictores del porcentaje de grasa corporal algunas dimensiones de la inteligencia emocional como manejo de estrés, adaptabilidad y ánimo general, así como los rasgos de neuroticismo y apertura.Conclusión: es indispensable que los entornos laborales consideren las dimensiones de la inteligencia emocional y los rasgos de personalidad, en la planeación de estrategias para la promoción de la salud y la prevención de enfer-medades asociadas al exceso de peso (AU)

Introduction: Being overweight has negative implications for work productivity. Emotional intelligence and per-sonality traits have shown differences between normal-weight and overweight people (according to BMI). However, the evidence of associations with more objective indicators, such as body fat percentage, is scarce. The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between body fat percentage, emotional intelligence, and personality traits in young workers.Methods: A cross-analytical study was carried out on 125 young people living in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SDage ± 2.6). A sociodemographic data questionnaire, the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EQ-i-M20), and the Personality Traits Inventory (BFI-15p) were used. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) was used to quantify body fat percentage.Results: Both emotional intelligence and personality traits showed differences by sex. Women had lower emotional intelligence and higher neuroticism than men. Some domains of emotional intelligence, such as stress manage-ment, adaptability, and general mood, as well as neuroticism and openness traits, were identified as predictors for body fat percentage.Conclusions: Work environments must consider the dimensions of emotional intelligence and personality traits in planning strategies for health promotion and the prevention of diseases associated with excess weight (AU)

Assessment of executive functions and physical activity in girls and boys with normal weight, overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and performance of executive functions (EFs) in girls and boys with 9- and 10-year-old schoolchildren with moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviour. METHODS: A total of 120 schoolchildren (61 girls and 59 boys) were evaluated anthropometrically. The MVPA was evaluated with a self-report questionnaire. EFs were measured using a neuropsychological battery of Executive Functions and Frontal Lobes-2 (BANFE-2). RESULTS: A high BMI was associated with longer delay in completing inhibitory control tests (p = 0.00, rp  = 0.32) and working memory (p = 0.00, rp  = 0.26). We observed correlations in time (p = 0.00, rp  = -0.43) and hits (p = 0.04, rp  = -0.27) of self-directed signalling test in boys; and girls in alphabetical words order (p = 0.00, rp  = -0.39). Active normal weight schoolchildren (ANw) performed better by successfully completed the working memory tasks (H = 26.97, p = 0.00) than sedentary schoolchildren with overweight and obesity. In addition, overweight-active schoolchildren (AOw) showed better performance on working memory tests in time (p = 0.00) and hits (p = 0.01) than their sedentary peers. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant association between BMI and EFs scores (F = 2.41, df = 98, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EFs are affected by a high BMI and sedentary behaviour in school children. Boys and girls reflected differences to solve the same challenges. The MVPA has a positive effect on executive control skills mainly in overweight children.

Brain activation associated to olfactory conditioned same-sex partner preference in male rats.

Sexual preferences can be strongly modified by Pavlovian learning. For instance, olfactory conditioned same-sex partner preference can occur when a sexually naïve male cohabits with an scented male during repeated periods under the effects of enhanced D2-type activity. Preference is observed days later via social and sexual behaviors. Herein we explored brain activity related to learned same-sex preference (Fos-Immunoreactivity, IR) following exposure to a conditioned odor paired with same-sex preference. During conditioning trials males received either saline or the D2-type receptor agonist quinpirole (QNP) and cohabitated during 24 h with a stimulus male that bore almond scent on the back as conditioned stimulus. This was repeated every 4 days, for a total of three trials. In a drug-free final test we assessed socio/sexual partner preference between the scented male and a receptive female. The results indicated that QNP-conditioned males developed a same-sex preference observed via contact, time spent, olfactory investigations, and non-contact erections. By contrast, saline-conditioned and intact (non-exposed to conditioning) males expressed an unconditioned preference for the female. Four days later the males were exposed to almond scent and their brains were processed for Fos-IR. Results indicated that the QNP-conditioned group expressed more Fos-IR in the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh), medial preoptic area (MPA), piriform cortex (Pir) and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) as compared to saline-conditioned. Intact males expressed the lowest Fos-IR in AcbSh and VMH, but the highest in MPA and Pir. We discuss the role of these areas in the learning process of same-sex partner preferences and olfactory discrimination.

Cohabitation between male rats after ejaculation: effects on conditioned partner preference.

Male rats display a conditioned ejaculatory preference for females that bear olfactory cues associated with ejaculation+the postejaculatory interval (PEI), or with the PEI alone. This indicates that exposure to a partner during the PEI is necessary and sufficient 'for the development of conditioned sexual partner preference. In the present study we examined the effect of cohabitation between two males during the PEI on the possible development of same-sex partner preference. Males first copulated with an ovariectomized, E+P primed female to one ejaculation and were immediately removed from the female's chamber and placed in another chamber with a conspecific male scented with almond odor as a conditioned stimulus (CS+). Cohabitation lasted for 1 h and started immediately after ejaculation in the PEI group and 7h later in the control group. Conditioning occurred daily for a total of ten trials with different females, but cohabitation during the PEI occurred always with the same stimulus male partner. On trial 11, males were tested for social partner preference with two stimulus male partners. One was the familiar scented male and the other an unfamiliar unscented male. Results indicated that males did not develop any social or sexual preference for the male associated with the PEI. In fact, rats from the PEI group interacted significantly less with the scented male as compared to the unscented male, and displayed more agonistic behaviors towards the scented male than towards the unscented male. These data show that conditioned same-sex preference does not develop as a result of cohabitation during the PEI. We discuss the implications for conditioned hostility in intrasexual competition.

Enhaced D2-type receptor activity facilitates the development of conditioned same-sex partner preference in male rats.

Animal models have shown that the neural bases of social attachment, sexual preference and pair bonds, depend on dopamine D2-type receptor and oxytocin activity. In addition, studies have demonstrated that cohabitation can shape partner preference via conditioning. Herein, we used rats to explore the development of learned same-sex partner preferences in adulthood as a result of cohabitation during enhanced D2 activity. Experimental Wistar males (N=20), received saline or the D2 agonist (quinpirole) and were allowed to cohabitate during 24 h, with a stimulus male partner that bore almond scent on the back as conditioned stimulus. This was repeated every 4 days, for a total of three trials. Four days later they were drug-free tested for partner preference between the scented male partner and a sexually receptive female. Sexual partner preference was analyzed by measuring frequency and latency for appetitive and consummatory sexual behaviors, as well as non-contact erections. Social preference was also analyzed by measuring the frequency and latency of visits, body contacts and time spent together. Results indicated that only quinpirole-treated males displayed sexual and social preference for the scented male over the sexually receptive female. They spent more time together, displayed more body contacts, more female-like proceptive behaviors, and more non-contact erections. Accordingly, conditioned males appeared to be more sexually aroused and motivated by the known male than by a receptive female. We discuss the implications of this animal model on the formation of learned homosexual partner preferences.

Same-sex cohabitation under the effects of quinpirole induces a conditioned socio-sexual partner preference in males, but not in female rats.

The effects of the dopamine D2-type receptor agonist quinpirole (QNP) were examined on the development of conditioned same-sex partner preference induced by cohabitation in rats. In Experiment 1, males received either saline or QNP (1.25mg/kg) and cohabited during three trials with almond-scented stimulus males that were sexually naïve. In Experiment 2, males received six trials, and in Experiment 3 received three trials with sexually expert stimulus males. During a final drug-free preference test, males chose between the familiar or a novel male partner. In Experiments 1, 2 and 3 only QNP-treated males displayed a social preference for the familiar male, observed with more time spent together. In Experiment 3 males also displayed a sexual preference observed with more non-contact erections when were exposed to their male partner. In Experiment 4 we tested the effects on OVX, E+P primed females that received 1 systemic injection of either saline or QNP during three conditioning trials. In Experiment 5, females received 2 injections 12-h apart during each trial. Results indicated that both saline and QNP-treated females failed to develop partner preference. These data demonstrate that enhanced D2-type receptor activity during cohabitation facilitates the development of conditioned same-sex partner preference in males, but not in female rats. We discuss the implications for same-sex partner preferences.

Clitoral stimulation modulates appetitive sexual behavior and facilitates reproduction in rats.

In rats, sexual reward, appetitive sexual behaviors and reproduction are modulated by the amount and rate of vaginocervical stimulation. Here the effect of clitoral stimulation (CLS) on proceptivity was assessed. In Exp 1, ovariectomized, hormone-primed Wistar females formed three groups: G1 (1 CLS every second), G2 (1 CLS every 5s) and G3 (no CLS). Precopulatory CLS consisted of 5cycles of 1min of stimulation with the tip of a cotton swab connected to a vibrator device, followed by 1-2min of rest. CLS increased proceptive behavior in G1 compared to G2, but not compared to G3. In Exp 2, gonadally-intact rats in late proestrous received CLS prior to copulation. No differences in sexual behavior were detected between the groups, but CLS enhanced reproduction in females that received >9 intromissions. 28, 66 and 10% of females became pregnant in G1, G2, and G3, respectively. These data indicate that precopulatory CLS affects proceptive behaviors depending on the pattern and rhythm of stimulation in hormone-primed females. In virgin rats that have received sufficient vagino cervical stimulation CLS also increases fertility.