Journalists drink too much and bad at managing emotions: Study

The brains of journalists are worse at controlling emotions, suppressing biases, solving complex problems, and showing creative and flexible thinking, according to a study.

Led by Tara Swart, a London-based neuroscientist and leadership coach, the study analysed 40 journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online platforms over seven months. The study was first reported by Business Insider.

The study involved a blood test, heart-rate monitors, a week-long food and drink diary and a brain profile questionnaire in an effort to understand how journalists could thrive under stress.

The results showed journalists doing poorer than the average population on executive function, which is tied to the above problems, and ability to silence the mind, which means they are easily distracted and worry about the future or regret the past.

These problems are exacerbated by dehydration and a tendency to ‘self-medicate’ with alcohol, caffeine and high-sugar foods.

Forty-one percent of the participants drank an average of four units of alcohol above the recommended weekly allowance. Less than 5 percent drank the recommended amount of water.

However, journalists scored better on abstraction, thinking outside the box and make connections, and sifting information and assigning priorities.

Journalism is considered a stressful profession due to tight deadlines, public accountability, unpredictable and heavy workloads, lower pay and criticism on social media.

However, journalists said they found meaning and purpose in their work and showed high mental resilience, which suggests an ability to cope with stress.

Journalists’ levels of cortisol, commonly called the stress hormone, were normal, indicating they are no more physically stressed than the average person.

"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," the study says.

"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."

The full study can be found at:

http://www.taraswart.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Report-Study-into-the-mental-resilience-of-journalists-Dr-Tara-Swart.pdf