Why the study?
It remains unclear whether the stress-buffering effect of higher fitness on endocrine and autonomic responses depends on the type of acute stressor.
Does higher aerobic capacity reduce psychophysiological stress reactivity in healthy adults exposed to acute psychological and physical stressors?
Population
59 healthy participants (28 women; age: 27.1 ± 5.5 years)
Comparison
TSST vs MAST stress-induction paradigms across levels of aerobic capacity
Key result
Higher aerobic capacity was significantly associated with lower heart rate during acute stress (b = 0.99 bpm, p = 0.002), with no difference between physical and psychological stress paradigms.
Authors
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Hypothesis-generating for fitness in blunting stress HR; prospective trials needed before clinical adoption.
Observational (n=59)
Does higher aerobic capacity reduce psychophysiological stress reactivity in healthy adults exposed to acute psychological and physical stressors?
Effect estimate: b = 0.99 bpm
p-value: p=0.002
Higher aerobic fitness is associated with a modest reduction in heart rate during acute psychological and physical stress, suggesting a general cardiovascular buffering effect regardless of the stressor type.
Raidl et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Healthy (n=59). Aerobic capacity (VO2 peak) vs. Lower aerobic capacity was evaluated on Heart rate during stress-induction paradigms (b = 0.99 bpm, p=0.002). Higher aerobic capacity was significantly associated with lower heart rate during acute stress (b = 0.99 bpm, p = 0.002), with no difference between physical and psychological stress paradigms.
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