Organisation du travail,stress et conséquences en milieu universitaire

The objective of this study is to show that the organization of work, appearing in a cultural context marked by inequity, and raising the symptoms of stress, has an adverse impact on the functioning of Cameroonian universities. From a random probability sample of 287 university teachers were selected. Relative to the French version of the organizational factors Karasek and Siegrist questionnaire and inventory-based stress symptoms questionnaire were administered to them. The analysis method was statistical results and hypotheses were tested with multiple regression. All hypotheses are confirmed.This research raises awareness of mental health, if it is not supported, can further contribute to weaken higher education in Cameroon.     

Acute stress reactions: can biological responses predict posttraumatic stress disorder?

What biological responses characterize those acute trauma reactions that develop into chronic psychiatric disorder? The need to understand the genesis of posttraumatic psychological disorders has resulted in much attention on biological reactions in the initial aftermath of trauma exposure. This review outlines the prevailing biological models of acute stress reaction and critiques the available evidence concerning biological responses to trauma that are associated with subsequent psychological disorder. The roles of peritraumatic dissociation and vulnerability factors for acute stress reaction are also reviewed. The major challenges for research on psychobiological responses to trauma are highlighted.     

La psychothérapie assistée par la MDMA dans la prise en charge du syndrome de stress post-traumatique

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to remain chronic and severe for 25–50% of patients despite psychotherapeutic treatment. Part of the reasons is that patients with PTSD can have difficulties in establishing a good therapeutical alliance with the therapist. Moreover, they often fail to re-think the content of the trauma without being overwhelmed by negative emotions and tend to rely on avoidance strategies and/or to abandon the therapy. MDMA (“ecstasy”) is a drug classified as an entactogen (en “within”, tactus “touch”, and gen “produce”), an amphetamine with psychedelic properties that possesses psychopharmacological properties to overcome these issues. Indeed, MDMA triggers the release of oxytocin, which favors the establishment of interpersonal relationship based on kindness and trust. Moreover, MDMA diminishes the activity of the amygdale, allowing patients to work on challenging memories with less fear and anxiety. Finally, MDMA may also provide access to meaningful spiritual experiences, release of tensions and a sense of healing on a non-verbal level that are not completely understood. But are viewed as important by patients. Today, there is no evidence that the use of MDMA in a clinical setting has bad neurologic, psychological or cognitive consequences. Results of phase II trials in the United States and Europe confirm that MDMA favors psychotherapy's outcome without severe adverse effects. Phase III trials are underway. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has published online a method proposal and trains therapists in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.ConclusionFood and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) could approve this therapeutic tool in the coming years.     

Peer relations as a source of stress? Assessing affiliation- and status-related stress among adolescents

In this study, we applied a general stress scale (Perceived Stress Scale; Cohen et al., 1983 Cohen, S., Kamarck, T. and Mermelstein, R. 1983. A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24: 385–396. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) in the peer context, resulting in a new Peer-Relational Stress Scale (PRS), which assesses both affiliation-related and status-related stress. The self-rating questionnaire was filled out by 345 Norwegian adolescents, who also reported their experiences of victimization and peer support. We investigated the construct validity of the PRS by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and tested its measurement invariance across two randomly selected subsamples as well as across gender. It was shown that affiliation-related and status-related stress are two distinct, although correlated, dimensions of stress in the peer context. Criterion validity of affiliation- and peer-related stress was tested by correlating the two stress dimensions with victimization and peer support. As hypothesized, victimization was positively and peer support negatively associated with individual differences in experienced stress.     

Does cigarette smoking cause stress?

Smokers often report that cigarettes help relieve feelings of stress. However, the stress levels of adult smokers are slightly higher than those of nonsmokers, adolescent smokers report increasing levels of stress as they develop regular patterns of smoking, and smoking cessation leads to reduced stress. Far from acting as an aid for mood control, nicotine dependency seems to exacerbate stress. This is confirmed in the daily mood patterns described by smokers, with normal moods during smoking and worsening moods between cigarettes. Thus, the apparent relaxant effect of smoking only reflects the reversal of the tension and irritability that develop during nicotine depletion. Dependent smokers need nicotine to remain feeling normal. The message that tobacco use does not alleviate stress but actually increases it needs to be far more widely known. It could help those adult smokers who wish to quit and might prevent some schoolchildren from starting.     

Where does work stress come from? A generalizability analysis of stress in police officers

Differences among workers and workplace stressors both contribute to perceiving work as stressful. However, the relative importance of these sources to work stress is not well delineated. Moreover, the extent to which work stress additionally reflects unique matches between specific workers and particular job stressors is also unclear. In this study, we use generalizability theory to specify and compare sources of variance in stress associated with police work. US police officers (N?=?115) provided ratings of 60 stressors commonly associated with policing duties. Primary and secondary stress appraisal ratings reflected differences among officers in tendencies to generally perceive work stressors as stressful (14–15% officer effect), and also agreement among officers in viewing some stressors as more stressful than others (18–19% stressor effect). However, ratings especially reflected distinct pairings of officers and stressors (38–41% interaction effect). Additional analyses revealed individual differences and stressor characteristics associated with each variance component, including an officer?×?stressor interaction – compared to officers low in neuroticism, highly neurotic officers provided lower primary appraisal ratings of stressors generally seen as not serious, and also higher primary appraisal ratings of stressors that were seen as serious. We discuss implications of the current approach for the continued study of stress at work.     

Démarche et enjeux d'une recherche–action en partenariat sur la thématique du stress et de la souffrance au travail

In this article, the authors aim to describe and analyze the main stages of an action-research carried out with different partners (actors and organizations) about stress and suffering at work. They examine the conditions of realization of such a research. They specially point up the evolution of professionals and researchers roles just as the evolution of the goals pursued by the work group they instituted. This action-research began 2 years ago: it permitted to materialize projects mentioned in this contribution.     

Emotion,controllability and orientation towards stress as correlates of children’s coping with interpersonal stress

Guided by the motivational theory of coping (Skinner and Zimmer-Gembeck in Ann Rev Psychol 58:119–144. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085705, 2007), we investigated children’s anticipated coping with three different stressful events (bullying, parental argument, parent–child verbal conflict), and examined whether their reliance on challenge coping responses versus threat coping responses could be accounted for by emotional reactions (including feelings of sadness, anger and fear), perceived controllability, and orientation or interest in the stressor. In addition, we examined parents’ reports of their children’s temperamental traits as correlates of coping. In random order followed by a positive stimulus, children (N = 206, age 8–12 years) watched each of the three stressful events, and reported their emotions, perceived control, orientation and coping after each one. As anticipated, results indicated that controllability was associated with more challenge coping (a composite of adaptive/approach coping responses such as problem solving and support seeking) and less threat coping (a composite of maladaptive/withdrawal coping responses such as helplessness and escape). In general, feelings of sadness were more strongly associated with challenge coping, whereas fear and anger especially related to more threat coping. Greater orientation towards the stressor was particularly predictive of more challenge coping, but also was associated with more threat coping in response to parent stressors. These associations were significant, even after controlling for temperament (negative reactivity, task persistence, withdrawal, and activity), which was generally unrelated to children’s coping. Other combinations of coping responses were also examined.     

Control situacional y focalización en la tarea en pesimistas defensivos y optimistas

Resumen

El presente estudio trata de contribuir a la comprensión de la naturaleza y funcionalidad de las estrategias cognitivas de pesimistas defensivos y optimistas.Para ello manipulamos la controlabilidad de la situación. Pensamos que la valoración de control situacional es un proceso básico que puede estar subyaciendo a los efectos encontrados por estudios previos cuando inducen respuestas congruentes o incongruentes con el estilo valorativo de estos sujetos. Utilizamos un diseño factorial 2 (Grupo: pesimistas defensivos, optimistas) X 2 (Control situacional: alto, bajo). Pretend'amos estimular un nivel de control situacional congruente o no con cada estrategia, con vistas a evaluar su influencia en la estrategia de la focalización en la tarea, y en otras respuestas de tipo motivacional (intención de esfuerzo, importancia de los resultados) y adaptativo (cambio en ansiedad y rendimiento).

Los resultados mostraron 1) que el control situacional es un factor relevante en la activación diferencial de la estrategia de la focalización; 2) en los pesimistas defensivos la condición congruente (preferida) es la de control bajo, que estimula una focalización negativa en la tarea; en los optimistas, por el contrario, la condición preferida es la de control alto, que estimula una baja focalización (distracción). En la discusión relacionamos el nivel de control y de focalización preferido por cada grupo con diferencias individuales en orientación motivacional: a la incertidumbre, en los pesimistas defensivos, y a la certidumbre en los optimistas. Asimismo, diferenciamos entre la estrategia de distracción de los optimistas y mecanismos de defensa como la negación y la represión.     

Is compassion for others stress buffering? Consequences of compassion and social support for physiological reactivity to stress

The present study examined the role of compassion for others and social support in physiological stress reactivity. In this experiment, participants who had previously completed an online assessment of compassion experienced a social stress task in front of either two supportive or neutral evaluators, while their blood pressure, cortisol, high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and liking for the evaluators were monitored. Participants’ compassion for others interacted with social support condition to buffer their physiological reactivity to stress. When provided with social support during the task, higher trait compassion was associated with lower blood pressure reactivity, lower cortisol reactivity, and higher HF-HRV reactivity. Higher compassion was also associated with greater liking for the supportive evaluators. These relationships were not observed for participants in the neutral condition, regardless of their trait compassion. Compassion for others may increase our ability to receive social support, which may lead to more adaptive profiles of stress reactivity.     

Où en est t’on du Big Data en médecine ?

Opening of medical datas and files is nowadays an important challenge. French Government increments new rules to allow access to these data files.     

Examen des pratiques d'évaluation en recrutement et en bilan de compétences

Using two empirical studies, this article compare assessment methods and tools used in personnel selection and career counseling. Subjects are requested to point up their methods and assessment tools, on the one hand by 327 recruiters, on the other hand, by 318 competences reports. The results indicated a spread tendency to use interview and personality assessment tools. This spread tendency to use work psychology tools whatever the assessment context raises thought about choices and representations associated with psychometrical methods.     

Does stress run through the leash? An examination of stress transmission between owners and dogs during a walk

Animal Cognition - Humans and dogs have co-evolved for over 10,000 years. Recent research suggests that, through the domestication process, dogs have become proficient at responding to...     

Les stratégies d'influence dans les situations de travail en chine et en France

This study aimed to show the impact of social position, category and culture on strategies of influence in a managerial context. Although cultural norms in a society can lead to preferences for certain types of behaviour, status and organizational culture are also determinants in interpersonal relations. To demonstrate this phenomenon, a questionnaire was presented to middle managers belonging to different cultures (Chinese/French) and working in different sectors of activity (finance/industry). The participants were asked to evaluate strategies for dealing with situations in which a manager asks the target (of superior, equal or inferior status) to carry out a task. The results reveal some cultural similarities: there is relative consensus between Chinese and French managers on the strategies to adopt according to the status of the target. However, differences were also identified: in China there is more focus on relations with greater flexibility concerning social position. It appears therefore that certain values are necessary to participate in the phenomenon of globalisation, but these values seem to be negotiable, if not entirely negotiated, according to the culture.     

Profils d’apprenti·e·s reflétant des tensions de rôle en formation professionnelle en alternance en Suisse

Role stress among apprentices are a key element in defining the quality of dual vocational education and training. However, few studies have examined the perceptions and importance of role tensions in this particular context. Accordingly, this contribution focuses on the role stress perceived by dual apprentices through a questionnaire survey. Latent profile analyses allowed to distinguish four apprentices’ profiles in terms of perceptions of role stress, ranging from minimal to prominent role stress. Differences in socio-demographic characteristics, motivation for choosing the training, professional identification, and intention to terminate the apprenticeship contract were also identified. The study provides information on the importance of considering apprentices as a heterogeneous population in terms of role stress, but also on the different motivational and identity issues associated with the profiles. Discussing such issues would also improve the learning experience.     

Does stress enhance or impair memory consolidation?

Three experiments examined the hypothesis that stress-induced arousal enhances long-term memory for experiences associated with arousing events. Contrary to expectations, in each experiment exposure to a stressor (arm immersion in ice water) interfered with, rather than enhanced, long-term memory for associated material. Despite varying the stimuli (words, pictures), their emotional value (positive, negative, neutral), the time between learning and stress inductions (0 to 1 minute), and opportunities for post-learning rehearsal, each experiment produced a significant reversal of the hypothesised effect. That is, in each experiment, exposure to a stressor interfered with, rather than enhanced, long-term memory for associated material. We conclude that the relationship between stress and memory consolidation is more bounded than previously believed.     

Differences in familiarity according to the cognitive reserve of healthy elderly people / Diferencias en familiaridad en función de la reserva cognitiva en ancianos sanos

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between cognitive reserve and familiarity processes in recognition memory. We hypothesize that people with high cognitive reserve are able to better compensate in alternative information retrieval processes. Forty-five participants, divided into high and low cognitive reserve groups, conducted a recognition experiment where they were asked to discriminate between studied and non-studied words that varied in perceptual familiarity. The results indicated that participants were able to use perceptual familiarity to improve their level of recognition. More importantly, people with high cognitive reserve used familiarity better than those with low cognitive reserve. The results provide the first empirical evidence indicating that people with high cognitive reserve are more efficient at balancing recollection and familiarity processes, and thus maintain a better performance level than those with low cognitive reserve.