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A rather limited study by neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart of brain patterns in 40 volunteer journalist subjects seems to show a prevalence of lack of emotional self-control, as well as lower than average problem-solving skills, among other deficiencies. High blood levels of cortisol were significant.
The headline conclusion reached is that journalists are undoubtedly subject to a range of pressures at work and home, but the meaning and purpose they attribute to their work contributes to helping them remain mentally resilient despite this. Nevertheless, there are areas for improvement, including drinking more water and reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption to increase executive functioning and improve recovery during sleep.
[...] As a group, the journalists also exhibited lower executive functioning scores than the average person, indicating a lower than average ability to regulate emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and think flexibly and creatively. It is likely that the levels of caffeine/alcohol and the lack of water consumed contributed to the low scores recorded for executive functioning because of the severe impact of dehydration on cognitive ability.
Read the study here: TaraSwart.com [PDF]
[ n1: This is not a peer reviewed study. It was launched in association with the London Press Club, and the objective was to determine how journalists can thrive under stress. Tara Swart is a Senior Lecturer at MIT Sloan, she holds a BsC in Biomedical Science and PhD in Neuropharmacology from Kings College London, and a BM BcH in Medicine from Oxford University. ]
(Score: 4, Informative) by butthurt on Sunday May 21 2017, @12:56AM (2 children)
The summary says that there were "40 volunteer journalist subjects" and indeed that's how many were chosen for the study; however it seems that data were reported for only 31 and of those, only 21 were fully studied:
40 journalists were selected on a first come first served basis, from across newspaper & magazine, broadcast and online. Ultimately, failure to complete all the elements in the required time limit meant that a total of 21 participants completed every element, and a further 10 completed some elements of the study.
(Score: 4, Funny) by deimtee on Sunday May 21 2017, @02:29AM (1 child)
See how bad they are, 19 out of 40 couldn't even finish the tests.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 2) by butthurt on Sunday May 21 2017, @05:54AM
"In the required time limit," it says. Clearly journalists have trouble finishing tasks on a deadline.