Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2002 Sep;14(3):280-287.

The Effects of Job Stress on the Autonomic Nerve Activity of Workers in Manufacturing Industry

• Yoon KJ
• Ha MN
• Kim JY
• Lee SY
• Im HJ
• Shin AS
• Hwang SS
• Kim JS
• Kang DH
• Cho SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationships between autonomic nerve activity (i.e., heart rate variability and urinary catecholamines) and job stress.
METHODS
The study was conducted on 134 workers from a company producing consumer goods (i.e., diaper, paper towel) located in Cheonan, Korea. Job stress was assessed by Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Autonomic function was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) and urinary catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). Urine samplings, and measurings of HRV, were repeated three times for each shift. Information on demographic characteristics, previous job histories, past medical history, smoking and drinking were also collected.
RESULTS
No statistically significant differences were observed in any HRV and urinary catecholamines among the four groups, which were categorized by the Job Strain Model. When data were stratified by work duration, low field HRV was borderline significantly higher in the high strain group in individuals with a shorter work duration (<48.5 months, N=28, p-value of 0.92 by analysis of variance).
CONCLUSIONS
Neither HRV nor urinary catecholamines are significantly associated with job stress, as assessed by the Karasek's JCQ. However, HRV seems to be a potential physiological indicator of job stress only in the workers with a shorter work duration.

Keyword

Job Stress; Heart rate variability; Cardiovascular disease

MeSH Terms

Autonomic Pathways*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Catecholamines
Chungcheongnam-do
Cross-Sectional Studies
Drinking
Heart Rate
Korea
Norepinephrine
Questionnaires
Smoke
Smoking
Catecholamines
Norepinephrine
Smoke