Study provides insight into mental resilience of journalists

May 22 2017

Neuroscientist and executive advisor Dr Tara Swart announced the results of her study into the mental resilience of journalists last night at a London Press Club event held at the Corinthia Hotel.

It shows that the highest functions of journalists’ brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, due to dehydration, self-medicating, and fueling their brains with caffeine and high-sugar foods. However, the pressures of the job are not affecting journalists’ ability to endure and bounce back from adversity in the long term, due to a belief that their work has meaning and purpose.

A surprising result of the study was that journalists’ brains, compared to other groups, showed a lower level of executive functioning – the ability of the brain to regulate emotions, suppress bias, switch between tasks, solve complex problems and think flexibly and creatively. This was driven by a number of factors, including high levels of alcohol, sugar and caffeine consumption (41% of the journalists drank 18 or more units of alcohol a week - the recommended weekly allowance is 14); dehydration (less than 5% of journalists drank enough water, some none at all); and limited time given to mindfulness, which would allow individuals to take a break from busy mental thought.

Brain profile results combined with in-depth interviews conducted with participants indicated a high level of meaning and purpose attached by the journalists to their work, giving them an edge over other professions by helping them to cope with pressurized work and increasing their mental resilience. Similar studies in groups of bankers, traders, telecoms and sales executives show that they are less able to cope with pressure than journalists are.

Launched in 2016 in association with the London Press Club, the study sought to determine how journalists are able to survive and thrive under stress. Journalism is one of many industries under increasing amounts of pressure in the digital age. Low pay, constant deadlines and high levels of accountability all contribute to high reported stress levels.

Dr Swart recruited a group of 31 journalists from across the industry to carry out a series of tests. Many applicants asked to do the study because they felt stressed. Participants were required to take a blood test, wear a heart rate variability monitor, answer a brain profile questionnaire and record their eating and drinking habits.

Dr Swart said:

It’s been great to see the role that meaning and purpose plays in achieving mental resilience. There is more that journalists can do to achieve peak performance - implementing a few really simple changes to help their brains perform even better. I hope this study serves as useful tool to journalists, but also to anyone who wants to understand how neuroscience can show us how to join up brain and body health, and through that become more mentally resilient.

Doug Wills, Chair of the London Press Club, said:

It is encouraging to hear that journalists have the brain power to cope with the pressures that the job exposes them to. This study has been useful in helping us to understand how the integrity and purpose with which journalists imbue their work can help them to rise to the challenge.