Korean J Psychosom Med.  2022 Jun;30(1):7-15. 10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.1.7.

Effect of Stress Level and Stress Vulnerability of Workers on Heart Rate Variability

• Lee J
• Seo H
• Jeon S
• Park SK
• Bang JH
• Hwang YB
• Im KB

• KMID: 2537037
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22722/KJPM.2022.30.1.7

Abstract

Objectives
: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of office workers' stress level and stress vulnerability on heart rate variability (HRV), confirm the significance of objective stress indicators obtained through subjective stress and heart rate variability devices, and examine their effectiveness as an integrated stress measurement tool in community mental health projects.
Methods
: From June to July in 2020, 929 workers participated in the stress management and mental health promotion project carried out by K hospital, and their recorded database was used for study analysis with their agreements. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to find out the effects of general stress level, and stress vulnerability on heart rate variability.
Results
: All general characteristics were found to have a significant effect on SDNN (ln), RMSSD (ln), LF (ln), and HF (ln), but work experience did not significantly affect RMSSD (ln). Stress level and stress vulnerability did not significantly affect heart rate variability, but stress perception, a sub-factor of stress level, was found to have a significant effect on RMSSD (ln) (β=0.118, p=0.023).
Conclusions
: In this study, stress perception, a sub-factor of stress level, was found to be a factor affecting RMSSD (ln). This indicates an association with the activity of parasympathetic nerves in stressful situations, and more follow-up studies are needed to use it as a direct indicator of chronic stress and integrated stress in the community mental health field.

Keyword

Stress level; Stress vulnerability; Heart rate variability