Compared with neutral periods, worry episodes and stressful events independently increased heart rate by 2.00 and 2.75 beats/min, respectively, and decreased heart rate variability.
Observational (n=73)
Do worry episodes and stressful events increase heart rate and decrease heart rate variability in teachers?
Worry episodes, particularly work-related and anticipatory stress, have substantial independent effects on increasing heart rate and decreasing heart rate variability.
Mean Difference: 2
Objective: To hypothesize that increased heart rate (HR) and decreased heart rate variability (HRV) occurs not only during stressful events but also during episodes in which stress is cognitively represented, but not necessarily present, i.e., during worry. Methods: Ambulatory HR and HRV of 73 female and male teachers were recorded for 4 days, during which they reported, on an hourly basis using computerized diaries, the number and characteristics of worry episodes and stressful events. Multilevel regression models were used, controlling for biobehavioral variables. Results: Compared with neutral periods, worry episodes and stressful events had independent effects on HR (2.00 beats/min and 2.75 beats/min, respectively) and HRV (−1.07ms and −1.05, respectively). Neither psychological traits nor biobehavioral variables influenced these results. Effects were most pronounced for work-related worry on HR (9.16 beats/min) and HRV (−1.19 ms), and for worry about anticipated future stress on HR (4.79 beats/min). Conclusions: Worry in daily life might have substantial cardiac effects in addition to the effects of stressful events, especially in the form of work-related and anticipatory stress, the latter being a type of stress that has been largely neglected in stress research. CV = cardiovascular; HR = heart rate; HRV = heart rate variability; BP = blood pressure; BMI = body mass index; PSWQ = Penn State Worry Questionnaire; WDQ = Worry Domain Questionnaire; BDI = Beck Depression Inventory; STAI = Spielberger Trait Anxiety; CM = Cook-Medley hostility scale; IHAT = Interpersonal Hostility Assessment Technique.
Pieper et al. (Thu,) reported a observational. Worry episodes and stressful events vs. Neutral periods was evaluated on Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) (MD 2.00 beats/min (worry) and 2.75 beats/min (stress) for HR). Compared with neutral periods, worry episodes and stressful events independently increased heart rate by 2.00 and 2.75 beats/min, respectively, and decreased heart rate variability.