Marcin Jaracz1, Przemysław Paciorek2, Adam Buciński3, Alina Borkowska4. 1. Chair and Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Poland. Electronic address: marcinjaracz@gmail.com. 2. Chair of Emergency Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Poland. 3. Department of Biopharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Poland. 4. Chair and Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Torun, Collegium Medicum Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that choice of profession is related to differences in affective temperament, which is probably due to various predispositions needed to efficiently perform particular professions. The aim of the present study was to assess affective temperament and executive functions in a sample of emergency medicine professionals. METHODS: 75 emergency medicine professionals were enrolled in the study. Affective temperament was assessed by means of TEMPS-A. Executive functions were assessed by means of Trail Making Test and Stroop Color Word Interference Test. RESULTS: Subjects showed significantly higher rates of hyperthymic, compared to depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments. The principal component analysis revealed that hyperthymic temperament contributes to a different factor, than the remaining ones. Higher rates of depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments were related to poorer performance in Trail Making Test, whereas hyperthymic temperament had the opposite effect. LIMITATIONS: Due to the size of the sample, results of the present study may have lacked power to show all the relationships between tested variables. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthymic temperament promotes efficient performance of complex tasks under time pressure. Depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments have the opposite effect. This makes hyperthymic temperament a desirable trait in emergency medicine professionals, performing complex medical tasks under extreme conditions.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies indicate that choice of profession is related to differences in affective temperament, which is probably due to various predispositions needed to efficiently perform particular professions. The aim of the present study was to assess affective temperament and executive functions in a sample of emergency medicine professionals. METHODS: 75 emergency medicine professionals were enrolled in the study. Affective temperament was assessed by means of TEMPS-A. Executive functions were assessed by means of Trail Making Test and Stroop Color Word Interference Test. RESULTS: Subjects showed significantly higher rates of hyperthymic, compared to depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments. The principal component analysis revealed that hyperthymic temperament contributes to a different factor, than the remaining ones. Higher rates of depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments were related to poorer performance in Trail Making Test, whereas hyperthymic temperament had the opposite effect. LIMITATIONS: Due to the size of the sample, results of the present study may have lacked power to show all the relationships between tested variables. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthymic temperament promotes efficient performance of complex tasks under time pressure. Depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments have the opposite effect. This makes hyperthymic temperament a desirable trait in emergency medicine professionals, performing complex medical tasks under extreme conditions.
Authors: Marcin Jaracz; Katarzyna Bialczyk; Adam Ochocinski; Magdalena Szwed; Katarzyna Jaracz; Alina Borkowska Journal: Psychol Res Behav Manag Date: 2021-06-22