TY - JOUR
T1 - Low self-reported stress despite immune-physiological changes in paramedics during rescue operations
AU - Peifer, Corinna
AU - Hagemann, Vera
AU - Claus, Maren
AU - Larra, Mauro F.
AU - Aust, Fabienne
AU - Kühn, Marvin
AU - Owczarek, Monika
AU - Bröde, Peter
AU - Pacharra, Marlene
AU - Steffens, Holger
AU - Watzl, Carsten
AU - Wascher, Edmund
AU - Capellino, Silvia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Despite the high stress levels, paramedics seem to ignore or even negate the stress. This can be detrimental and lead to stress-related diseases. Therefore, we investigated the divergence between physiological and psychological stress responses of paramedics. Participants were 16 paramedics and 17 white-collar workers. We assessed psychological stress parameters, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and quantified immune parameters. In par-amedics, electrocardiogram (ECG) was measured during one complete 24-hour shift. Our results revealed that CAR was higher in paramedics compared to controls. An alteration of immune parameters was observed even during days of free time. Also, ECG recordings showed acute stress in paramedics during rescue situations. Questionnaires revealed that rescue-service specific stressors affect psychological outcomes. However, paramedics reported significantly less mental stress and higher levels of depersonalization than controls. Taken together, our results suggest higher stress in paramedics compared to controls. However, paramedics negate their daily stress. Our findings underline therefore the importance to develop stress-management interventions for paramedics including sensitization for their stress reactions.
AB - Despite the high stress levels, paramedics seem to ignore or even negate the stress. This can be detrimental and lead to stress-related diseases. Therefore, we investigated the divergence between physiological and psychological stress responses of paramedics. Participants were 16 paramedics and 17 white-collar workers. We assessed psychological stress parameters, cortisol awakening response (CAR), and quantified immune parameters. In par-amedics, electrocardiogram (ECG) was measured during one complete 24-hour shift. Our results revealed that CAR was higher in paramedics compared to controls. An alteration of immune parameters was observed even during days of free time. Also, ECG recordings showed acute stress in paramedics during rescue situations. Questionnaires revealed that rescue-service specific stressors affect psychological outcomes. However, paramedics reported significantly less mental stress and higher levels of depersonalization than controls. Taken together, our results suggest higher stress in paramedics compared to controls. However, paramedics negate their daily stress. Our findings underline therefore the importance to develop stress-management interventions for paramedics including sensitization for their stress reactions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105225452&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17179/excli2021-3617
DO - 10.17179/excli2021-3617
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85105225452
SN - 1611-2156
VL - 20
SP - 792
EP - 811
JO - EXCLI Journal
JF - EXCLI Journal
ER -