Key result
Job stress was not significantly associated with heart rate variability or urinary catecholamines, though low field HRV was borderline higher in high strain workers with shorter work duration (p=0.92).
Why the study?
Does job stress affect autonomic nerve activity (HRV and urinary catecholamines) in manufacturing workers?
Cross-Sectional (n=134)
No
Does job stress affect autonomic nerve activity (HRV and urinary catecholamines) in manufacturing workers?
Job stress assessed by the Karasek JCQ is not significantly associated with autonomic nerve activity in manufacturing workers, though HRV may be a potential indicator in those with shorter work duration.
No association in this cross-sectional sample; leaves open whether HRV may signal early stress effects in shorter-tenure workers.
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.
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Yoon et al. (2002) conducted a cross-sectional in Job stress (n=134). Job stress vs. Low job strain was evaluated on Autonomic nerve activity (heart rate variability and urinary catecholamines). Job stress was not significantly associated with heart rate variability or urinary catecholamines, though low field HRV was borderline higher in high strain workers with shorter work duration (p=0.92).
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