OBJECTIVES: The central aim of the present study was to examine differences in the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis between 29 burned-out, 33 work-engaged, and 26 healthy reference managers, as identified with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. METHODS: All of the managers were employed in a large Dutch telecommunications company. Salivary cortisol was sampled on three consecutive workdays and one nonworkday to determine the cortisol awakening response. Salivary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), a cortisol counterbalancing product of the HPA axis, was measured on these days 1 hour after managers awakened. The dexamethasone suppression test was used to investigate the feedback sensitivity of the HPA axis. RESULTS: The morning cortisol levels were higher on the workdays than on the nonworkday, but this effect did not differ between the three groups. The burned-out, work-engaged, and reference groups did not differ in the cortisol and DHEAS levels, the slope of the cortisol awakening response, and the cortisol : DHEAS ratio. The work-engaged group showed a stronger cortisol suppression in response to the dexamethasone suppression test than the other two groups, the finding suggesting higher feedback sensitivity among work-engaged managers. CONCLUSIONS: Burned-out and work-engaged managers only differ marginally in HPA-axis functioning.
OBJECTIVES: The central aim of the present study was to examine differences in the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis between 29 burned-out, 33 work-engaged, and 26 healthy reference managers, as identified with the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. METHODS: All of the managers were employed in a large Dutch telecommunications company. Salivary cortisol was sampled on three consecutive workdays and one nonworkday to determine the cortisol awakening response. Salivary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), a cortisol counterbalancing product of the HPA axis, was measured on these days 1 hour after managers awakened. The dexamethasone suppression test was used to investigate the feedback sensitivity of the HPA axis. RESULTS: The morning cortisol levels were higher on the workdays than on the nonworkday, but this effect did not differ between the three groups. The burned-out, work-engaged, and reference groups did not differ in the cortisol and DHEAS levels, the slope of the cortisol awakening response, and the cortisol : DHEAS ratio. The work-engaged group showed a stronger cortisol suppression in response to the dexamethasone suppression test than the other two groups, the finding suggesting higher feedback sensitivity among work-engaged managers. CONCLUSIONS: Burned-out and work-engaged managers only differ marginally in HPA-axis functioning.
Authors: Ian A Boggero; Camelia E Hostinar; Eric A Haak; Michael L M Murphy; Suzanne C Segerstrom Journal: Biol Psychol Date: 2017-09-14 Impact factor: 3.251
Authors: Brian A Primack; Terri C Dilmore; Galen E Switzer; Cindy L Bryce; Deborah L Seltzer; Jie Li; Douglas P Landsittel; Wishwa N Kapoor; Doris M Rubio Journal: Clin Transl Sci Date: 2010-08 Impact factor: 4.689
Authors: Beverly H Brummett; Stephen H Boyle; Ilene C Siegler; Cynthia M Kuhn; Richard S Surwit; Melanie E Garrett; Ann Collins; Allison Ashley-Koch; Redford B Williams Journal: Biol Psychol Date: 2008-07-01 Impact factor: 3.251