Optimism as a key factor in coping with the common cold.

Objective: The optimism trait is considered one of the most important psychological factors in protecting and promoting health. This study aims to investigate whether trait optimism may help to cope better with the common cold by reducing the subjective perception of cold symptoms and affecting the immune response. Methods: To do so, 212 volunteers from the Pittsburg Cold Study 3 within the Common Cold Project were exposed to Rhinovirus (RV39). On the 5 days following the inoculation, a daily symptoms scale, nasal wash, and blood samples were collected to assess Jackson Symptoms (nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, and malaise) and control the Immune System response to infection (concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-α). Results: Results showed that approximately 30% of the inoculated participants were finally diagnosed with a common cold, showing higher Jackson Symptom severity and Immune System Response (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα and IFNα). Importantly, moderation regression analyses showed that higher optimism scores were related to lower Jackson Symptom severity and TNFα response to infection in cold-diagnosed participants. Conclusions: Our results provide important evidence for the protective role of optimism, a trait factor that promotes a better perception of wellbeing and less need for immune system resources to successfully cope with the common cold.

El burnout se asocia con la disfunción ejecutiva en profesionales de atención primaria que trabajan en zonas rurales / Burnout is related to executive dysfunction in primary healthcare professionals working in rural areas

Introducción: Los profesionales sanitarios son especialmente vulnerables al burnout, lo que implica una desregulación hipotalámico-hipófiso-suprarrenal que podría impactar en la integridad de estructuras cerebrales necesarias para el procesamiento cognitivo. Escasos estudios han analizado la relación entre el burnout y las funciones ejecutivas en esta población, y no se han esclarecido sus posibles factores moduladores. Este estudio pretende caracterizar el nivel de burnout de profesionales de atención primaria de zonas rurales y analizar su relación con el funcionamiento ejecutivo, considerando el posible papel modulador del optimismo.Sujetos y métodos: En este estudio transversal, 32 profesionales de atención primaria fueron reclutados en el centro de salud de Carcastillo (España) y sometidos a una evaluación en la que se valoró el burnout mediante el Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, y el optimismo y las funciones ejecutivas. Resultados: El 43,8, el 59,4 y el 56,3% de los participantes experimentaron alto burnout a través del agotamiento emocional, la despersonalización y la desrealización personal. El path analysis mostró que el agotamiento emocional se asoció con peores puntuaciones en el Trail Making Test (beta = –0,37, SE –error estándar– = 0,17, p = 0,024, f2 de Cohen = 0,15), pero el optimismo no fue un moderador significativo (p = 0,24). El modelo mostró un ajuste excelente (índice de ajuste comparativo = 1, error cuadrático medio de aproximación = 0,0001, residuo cuadrático medio estandarizado = 0,0001, y chi cuadrado(3) = 6,07, p = 0,11). Conclusiones: Estos resultados sugieren que el burnout en profesionales sanitarios podría tener un efecto perjudicial sobre la eficiencia del sistema sanitario. Esto tiene implicaciones relevantes, especialmente para profesionales caracterizados tanto por la presión laboral como por las altas demandas cognitivas, y pone de manifiesto la necesidad de implementar enfoques específicos para su prevención.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are especially vulnerable to burnout, which implies a hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation that could impact the integrity of brain structures needed for cognitive processing. However, a scarce number of studies have analyzed the relationship between burnout and executive functions in this population, and possible modulator factors have not been clarified. This study aims to characterize the burnout level of primary healthcare professionals working in rural areas, and to analyze its relationship with executive functioning, considering the possible modulating role of optimism.Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 32 primary healthcare professionals were recruited from the Carcastillo Health Center (Spain) and underwent an assessment in which burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey. Optimism and executive functions were also evaluated.Results: 43.8%, 59.4%, and 56.3% of participants experienced high levels of burnout via emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The path analysis showed that emotional exhaustion was associated with poorer Trail Making Test scores (b = –0.37, SE = 0.17, p = 0.024, Cohen’s f2 = 0.15), but optimism was not a significant moderator of this relationship (p = 0.24). The proposed model yielded excellent fit (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.0001, SRMR = 0.0001, and c2(3) = 6.07, p = 0.11).Conclusions: These results suggest that burnout in healthcare professionals could have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of health systems. This has relevant implications, especially for professionals characterized by both work pressure and high cognitive demands, and highlights a need to implement occupation-specific approaches for prevention.(AU)

Burnout is related to executive dysfunction in primary healthcare professionals working in rural areas. / El burnout se asocia con la disfunción ejecutiva en profesionales de atención primaria que trabajan en zonas rurales.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals are especially vulnerable to burnout, which implies a hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation that could impact the integrity of brain structures needed for cognitive processing. However, a scarce number of studies have analyzed the relationship between burnout and executive functions in this population, and possible modulator factors have not been clarified. This study aims to characterize the burnout level of primary healthcare professionals working in rural areas, and to analyze its relationship with executive functioning, considering the possible modulating role of optimism. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 32 primary healthcare professionals were recruited from the Carcastillo Health Center (Spain) and underwent an assessment in which burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey. Optimism and executive functions were also evaluated. RESULTS: 43.8%, 59.4%, and 56.3% of participants experienced high levels of burnout via emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. The path analysis showed that emotional exhaustion was associated with poorer Trail Making Test scores (ß = -0.37, SE = 0.17, p = 0.024, Cohen's f2 = 0.15), but optimism was not a significant moderator of this relationship (p = 0.24). The proposed model yielded excellent fit (CFI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.0001, SRMR = 0.0001, and ?2(3) = 6.07, p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that burnout in healthcare professionals could have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of health systems. This has relevant implications, especially for professionals characterized by both work pressure and high cognitive demands, and highlights a need to implement occupation-specific approaches for prevention.

TITLE: El burnout se asocia con la disfunción ejecutiva en profesionales de atención primaria que trabajan en zonas rurales.Introducción. Los profesionales sanitarios son especialmente vulnerables al burnout, lo que implica una desregulación hipotalámico-hipófiso-suprarrenal que podría impactar en la integridad de estructuras cerebrales necesarias para el procesamiento cognitivo. Escasos estudios han analizado la relación entre el burnout y las funciones ejecutivas en esta población, y no se han esclarecido sus posibles factores moduladores. Este estudio pretende caracterizar el nivel de burnout de profesionales de atención primaria de zonas rurales y analizar su relación con el funcionamiento ejecutivo, considerando el posible papel modulador del optimismo. Sujetos y métodos. En este estudio transversal, 32 profesionales de atención primaria fueron reclutados en el centro de salud de Carcastillo (España) y sometidos a una evaluación en la que se valoró el burnout mediante el Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey, y el optimismo y las funciones ejecutivas. Resultados. El 43,8, el 59,4 y el 56,3% de los participantes experimentaron alto burnout a través del agotamiento emocional, la despersonalización y la desrealización personal. El path analysis mostró que el agotamiento emocional se asoció con peores puntuaciones en el Trail Making Test (beta = ­0,37, SE ­error estándar­ = 0,17, p = 0,024, f2 de Cohen = 0,15), pero el optimismo no fue un moderador significativo (p = 0,24). El modelo mostró un ajuste excelente (índice de ajuste comparativo = 1, error cuadrático medio de aproximación = 0,0001, residuo cuadrático medio estandarizado = 0,0001, y chi cuadrado(3) = 6,07, p = 0,11). Conclusiones. Estos resultados sugieren que el burnout en profesionales sanitarios podría tener un efecto perjudicial sobre la eficiencia del sistema sanitario. Esto tiene implicaciones relevantes, especialmente para profesionales caracterizados tanto por la presión laboral como por las altas demandas cognitivas, y pone de manifiesto la necesidad de implementar enfoques específicos para su prevención.

Being an optimist or a pessimist and its relationship with morning cortisol release and past life review in healthy older people.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the relationship between optimism and pessimism and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and past life review in healthy older people. DESIGN: 76 older volunteers summarised their lives, highlighting the most important events, impressions and experiences. Cortisol saliva samples were collected on two consecutive weekdays. High and low optimism and pessimism groups were computed by mean split. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentages of positive (PE) and negative events (NE) and positive (PCE) and negative cognitions and emotions (NCE) were obtained. Optimism and pessimism were measured with the Life Orientation Test Revised. The areas under the curve with respect to the ground and with respect to the increase were computed, with the latter understood as the CAR. RESULTS: The high pessimism group reported more NE and NCE and less PE and PCE (p's < 0.041). No significant differences in CAR were found between high and low optimism and pessimism groups after removing suspected non-adherent participants (p's > 0.116). Higher CAR was related to lower PCE, but higher NCE (both p < 0.008). CONCLUSION: Pessimism seems to increase the focus on negative aspects of the past, which may lead to a worse perception of life in ageing, whereas optimism contributes to a healthier CAR.

Optimism moderates psychophysiological responses to stress in older people with Type 2 diabetes.

Optimism is thought to be beneficial for health, and these effects may be mediated through modifications in psychophysiological stress reactivity. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with reduced cardiovascular responses to stress and heightened cortisol over the day. This study assessed the relationships between optimism, stress responsivity, and daily cortisol output in people with T2D. A total of 140 participants with T2D were exposed to laboratory stress. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and cortisol were measured throughout the session. Cortisol output over the day was also assessed. Optimism and self-reported health were measured using the revised Life Orientation Test and the Short Form Health Survey. Optimism was associated with heightened SBP and DBP stress reactivity (ps < .047) and lower daily cortisol output (p = .04). Optimism was not related to HR, cortisol stress responses, or the cortisol awakening response (ps > .180). Low optimism was related to poorer self-reported physical and mental health (ps < .01). Optimism could have a protective role in modulating stress-related autonomic and neuroendocrine dysregulation in people with T2D.