Individual, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors related to insomnia among Norwegian musicians

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Insomnia as a Partial Mediator of the Relationship Between Personality and Future Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Among Nurses

Background: This study investigates insomnia as a partial mediator in the relationship between personality and symptoms of anxiety and depression.Methods: The study is based on partly longitudinal data from the ongoing cohort study “Survey of Shift work, Sleep, and Health” (SUSSH) among Norwegian nurses, a survey examining the work situation and health status of Norwegian nurses measured with annual questionnaires. The present study uses data collected in 2012 (Wave 4), 2013 (Wave 5), and 2014 (Wave 6). The final sample at Wave 6 consisted of 2002 participants, of which 91% were females. The questionnaires included items measuring, among others, demographic variables, work time schedule, insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale), personality (Mini-IPIP) and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).Results: Extraversion and conscientiousness had no significant direct or indirect association with insomnia, anxiety or depression. Neuroticism and insomnia had direct associations to future symptoms of anxiety and depression. Insomnia was also a significant partial mediator of the relationship between both neuroticism and anxiety, and neuroticism and depression, meaning that neuroticism had an indirect relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression through insomnia. When adjusting for previous symptoms of anxiety and depression at Wave 5, insomnia was no longer a significant mediator between neuroticism and anxiety, and only marginally mediated the relationship between neuroticism and depression.Conclusion: The results showed that insomnia may act as a mediator between neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety and depression, but the indirect relationship between neuroticism and anxiety and depression through insomnia is considerably weaker than the direct association. Hence, the mediating effect of insomnia should be interpreted with caution. The sample mainly consisted of female nurses, and the generalizability of the findings to male dominated occupations is limited. Findings from the present study highlight the importance of an integrated approach and strengthen the understanding of how personality and psychopathology are connected

A candidate perspective on personality testing in the selection process: The use of strategies and criteria for a positive experience

The aim was to explore how job applicants use strategies when completing a personality test in a selection process, and further to identify factors that contribute to a positive test experience. The informants were eight former applicants for an actual job including management responsibilities. The applicants had completed the personality test OPQ32i. We used semi-structured interviews when collecting data, and thematic analysis was used as an analytic approach.. The candidates considered strategies as important during the testing to optimize their own test profile. Strategies used were related to strategic honesty, time use, consistency, and aiming not to obtain middle or extreme scores. Criteria for an optimal test experience were positive expectations for the test, previous experiences with personality testing, high belief in the test, perception of the test as fair and relevant for the job, as well as certain aspects related to the feedback interview. Our study has provided important knowledge about the subjective experience of a personality test situation in a selection process. The use of strategies should be seen in a more holistic perspective than only focusing on faking. The results address the importance of using the feedback interview as an integrated and central element when applying personality tests in personnel selection

Anxiety as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease independent of depression: A narrative review of current status and conflicting findings

The aim of this paper is to summarise and evaluate the empirical support for the association between anxiety and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to address challenges related to method and study design. We review results from meta-analyses and more recent findings on the association of anxiety and the risk of CVD. Depression and anxiety are often listed as psychosocial risk markers of CVD, but the role of anxiety as a risk factor for CVD has not received the same evidential support as the effects of depression. Through a narrative review we identified six meta-analyses as well as 15 recent large studies of anxiety and CVD that we summarise. Some of the conflicting findings may be artefacts of study design or population the sample is drawn from. Researchers should take care to be population specific, measurement specific and outcome specific, and to control for comorbid depression

Longitudinal and cross-sectional examination of the relationship between personality and fatigue among shift workers

The present study examines the relationship between the personality traits of the five-factor model and fatigue among shift workers. The participants were recruited from shift workers employed in a municipality in Norway. Questionnaires were administered at two times, once in January 2013 (T1) and again in June 2013 (T2). The results showed that neuroticism had a positive association with both physical and mental fatigue at T1, and was the only trait that could predict physical fatigue at T2. The study demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between physical and mental fatigue given the distinctive influence of personality traits on the two concepts

A candidate perspective on personality testing in the selection process: The use of strategies and criteria for a positive experience

The aim was to explore how job applicants use strategies when completing a personality test in a selection process, and further to identify factors that contribute to a positive test experience. The informants were eight former applicants for an actual job including management responsibilities. The applicants had completed the personality test OPQ32i. We used semi-structured interviews when collecting data, and thematic analysis was used as an analytic approach.. The candidates considered strategies as important during the testing to optimize their own test profile. Strategies used were related to strategic honesty, time use, consistency, and aiming not to obtain middle or extreme scores. Criteria for an optimal test experience were positive expectations for the test, previous experiences with personality testing, high belief in the test, perception of the test as fair and relevant for the job, as well as certain aspects related to the feedback interview. Our study has provided important knowledge about the subjective experience of a personality test situation in a selection process. The use of strategies should be seen in a more holistic perspective than only focusing on faking. The results address the importance of using the feedback interview as an integrated and central element when applying personality tests in personnel selection

Associations between Sleep and Work-Related Cognitive and Emotional Functioning in Police Employees

Aim We aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between sleep and work-related impaired cognitive and emotional functioning in police employees. Methods This study included 410 participants (52% men) employed in a police district in Norway at baseline, of which 50% also participated in the study at 6 months later follow-up. The questionnaires included items measuring work schedule, sleep length, insomnia, as well as impaired cognitive and emotional functioning at work. Results The results showed that insomnia was related to impaired work-related emotional functioning measured at baseline, and to impaired cognitive functioning measured at both baseline and follow-up. Sleep length and rotating shift work were not associated with future decline in cognitive or emotional functioning. Conclusion Our study indicates that the relationship between insomnia and emotional functioning at work may be transient, whereas insomnia can be related to both immediate and future impaired cognitive functioning. Replication of the findings in larger samples is advised. The findings call for an emphasis on the prevention and treatment of sleep problems among police employees as a mean of maintaining and improving cognitive and emotional functioning at work, and thereby reducing the risk for impaired performance and negative health and safety outcomes