Sex, affective temperaments and information stress

Objectives The main purpose of the study was to investigate the association between sex and the level of information stress, as mediated by affective temperaments. Material and Methods The sample consisted of 231 healthy Caucasian adults (150 women and 81 men) recruited from a general population. The participants’ age ranged 18–56 years (M±SD = 25.07±6.36). Affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A). To assess the level of information stress, the Information Stress Questionnaire (ISQ) was used. Results Information stress displayed low to medium positive correlations with depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and anxious temperaments, and a negative correlation with the hyperthymic temperament. The female group was characterized with significantly higher age, information stress, and anxious temperament values, and with a significantly lower irritable temperament value, when compared to males. Cyclothymic temperament, anxious temperament and hyperthymic temperament were found to be significant predictors of information stress. The mediation analysis showed a significant direct effect of sex on information stress. The anxious temperament was a significant mediator of the relationship between sex and information stress. Conclusions The results showed the relationship between sex and information stress, including the role of anxious temperament as a mediator. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(5):635–44