@article{ref1,
title="Reduced cortisol response to traumatic images, self-esteem and stress levels in emergency medical technicians from the Red Cross",
journal="Personality and individual differences",
year="2021",
author="Reyes-Mota, Ana Rosa and Cerda-Molina, Ana Lilia and Mayagoitia-Novales, Lilian and Viveros-Sandoval, Martha Eva and Borráz-León, Javier I.",
volume="179",
number="",
pages="e110929-e110929",
abstract="Emergency Medical Technicians are health professionals commonly exposed to dangerous traumatic scenarios which can lead to an altered hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and stress related symptoms; however, the stress intensity may be mediated by personality traits such as self-esteem. We tested, in a population of 96 EMTs from the National Red Cross, the hypothesis of reduced cortisol secretion after the exposition to traumatic content images that could represent a stressor in non-paramedic healthy volunteers (59 non-EMTs). We took three saliva samples to measure cortisol (basal, 15 and 30 min after the images) and quantified the levels of self-esteem, perceived and physiological stress. <br><br>RESULTS showed a peak of cortisol 15 min after the images in the non-EMTs population, whereas a decreased cortisol profile was observed in EMTs, suggesting a higher sensitivity for a negative feedback regulation of cortisol. EMTs had lower levels of perceived stress but higher physiological stress symptoms than non-EMTs. The most important predictors of cortisol levels in EMTs were the number of working days per week and self-esteem which also had a negative correlation with perceived and physiological stress. We suggested that, in general, this paramedic population is habituated and predisposed to accidental scenarios.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0191-8869",
doi="10.1016/j.paid.2021.110929",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110929"
}