Journalists' brains operate at a lower level than average: study

Traits that make journalism stressful include deadlines, accountability, heavy workload, public scrutiny and lower pay

The brain of a journalist displays a below par level of executive functioning, based on the findings of a new study, according to Business Insider.

Essentially this means that professionals in this field  have a below-average capacity to manage their emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and show creative and flexible thinking.

Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and leadership coach, spearheaded the study.

Forty journalists from various newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online platforms were examined during a seven-month period.

The candidates engaged in tests related to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour.

The study was launched in association with the London Press Club, and the objective was to determine how journalists can thrive under stress. It is not yet peer reviewed, and the sample size is small, so the results should not be taken necessarily as fact.



Each subject completed a blood test, wore a heart-rate monitor for three days, kept a food and drink diary for a week, and completed a brain profile questionnaire.

The results showed that journalists' brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, especially owing to dehydration as well as the tendency of journalists to self-medicate with alcohol, caffeine, and high-sugar foods.

Forty-one per cent of the participants said they consumed 18 or more units of alcohol a week, which is four units more than the prescribed weekly allowance. Less than five per cent drank the recommended amount of water.

However, in interviews conducted in conjunction with the brain profile results, the subjects indicated they felt their jobs had a lot of meaning and purpose, and they showed high mental resilience.

Swart suggested this gave them an advantage over people in other professions in dealing with the work pressure of having tight deadlines.

Compared with bankers, traders, or salespeople, journalists showed that they were more able to cope with pressure. Traits that make journalism a stressful profession are deadlines, accountability to the public, unpredictable and heavy workload, public scrutiny, repercussions on social media, and lower pay.



The results, however, showed that the journalists were on average no more physically stressed than the average person. The blood tests showed that their levels of cortisol — known as the stress hormone — were mostly normal.

"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."