Table_1_The relevance of pharmacological neuroenhancement for stress and resilience—A multistudy report.pdf

BackgroundPharmacological neuroenhancement (PNE) is discussed as coping strategy in academic and work-related contexts. Depending on the definition of PNE and sample population, different prevalence rates for various groups have been reported. In the three parts of the study, prevalence rates for work and student populations in Germany are detected and the reasons for PNE and possible causal associations between PNE, stress and resilience are investigated.
MethodsIn part 1 of the study, 152 occupational physicians (OPs) were surveyed about prevalence rates and reasons for PNE. In part 2 of the study, 1,077 German students reported on their PNE behavior. 704 students were then longitudinally considered to draw conclusions on causal associations between PNE, stress, and resilience.
ResultsThe OPs' estimated prevalence rate of 10.9% in a working population is higher than the prevalence rate of 5.4% for prescription and illicit substances found in the student sample in part 2 of the study. The reason suspected by OPs to be most important for PNE with prescription drugs were performance pressure and long working hours. Using soft enhancers, such as caffeine, is most common with a prevalence rate of 76.8% in the student sample. Stress predicts a higher (β = 0.179, p < 0.001) and resilience a lower use of PNE (β = −0.13, p = 0.001). Resilience predicts a lower (β = −0.35, p < 0.001) and PNE a higher level of stress (β = 0.11, p < 0.001).
ConclusionOPs suspect a prevalence rate of 10.9% among the working population, while we found a prevalence rate of 5.4% among students. Caffeine is the most used substance for PNE, while the use of prescription and illicit substances remains low. Higher levels of stress and lower levels of resilience result in a higher use of PNE. Universities should therefore include the promotion of resilience and methods for dealing with study stress in health programs to reduce PNE.

研究背景
药物性神经增强（Pharmacological neuroenhancement, PNE）在学术与职场场景中被视作一种应对策略。依据PNE的定义与研究样本群体的不同，已有多项研究报告了不同群体的PNE使用流行率。本研究分为三个部分：旨在探明德国职场群体与学生群体的PNE使用流行率，并探究PNE的使用动因，以及PNE与压力、心理韧性之间的潜在因果关联。

研究方法
本研究第一部分针对152名职业医师（Occupational Physicians, OPs）开展问卷调查，以了解PNE的使用流行率与动因。本研究第二部分共回收1077名德国学生的PNE使用行为相关报告，随后对其中704名学生进行纵向追踪分析，以探究PNE、压力与心理韧性之间的因果关联。

研究结果
职业医师估算的职场群体PNE使用流行率为10.9%，高于本研究第二部分学生样本中处方药与违禁药物类PNE的5.4%使用率。职业医师认为，促使职场人群使用处方药类PNE的最主要动因是绩效压力与超长工作时长。学生群体中使用咖啡因等软性神经增强剂的情况最为普遍，流行率达76.8%。压力正向预测PNE使用量（β=0.179，p<0.001），而心理韧性负向预测PNE使用量（β=-0.13，p=0.001）。心理韧性负向预测个体的压力水平（β=-0.35，p<0.001），而PNE使用则正向预测个体的压力水平（β=0.11，p<0.001）。

研究结论
职业医师估算职场群体的PNE使用流行率为10.9%，而本研究在学生群体中测得的该比例为5.4%。咖啡因是学生群体中最常用的PNE辅助物质，而处方药与违禁药物类PNE的使用率仍处于较低水平。更高的压力水平与更低的心理韧性均会提升PNE的使用频率。因此，高校应在健康宣教项目中纳入心理韧性提升策略与学业压力应对方法，以降低学生的PNE使用行为。