scholarly journals Physiological Measurements of Stress Preceding Incidents of Challenging Behavior in People With Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities: Longitudinal Study Protocol of Single-Case Studies (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne Simons ◽  
Renske Koordeman ◽  
Peter de Looff ◽  
Roy Otten
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Challenging Behavior ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Recurrence Quantification ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Cross Recurrence Quantification

BACKGROUND Clients with severe to profound intellectual disabilities (SPID) and challenging behavior (CB) and the professional caregivers that support them are vulnerable to high stress levels, which negatively impact their well-being and the quality of care. CB is thought to result from an increase in the intensity and frequency of clients’ stress experiences. In turn, staff members experience stress in dealing with this behavior, and stressed staff members might behave in ways that increase clients’ stress levels, contributing to the origin and maintenance of CB. Research into these dyadic interactions between clients and staff is scarce for people with SPID, especially in real-life situations. The barriers of studying stress in this population include clients’ difficulties in communicating stress experiences and the lack of an objective continuous measure of stress. OBJECTIVE This paper presents a protocol for studying patterns of physiological stress in 15 client-caregiver dyads in the 30 minutes preceding incidents of CB compared to control periods without CB and the interplay between the stress levels of clients and professional caregivers. METHODS We will conduct 15 single-case studies to assess patterns of physiological stress in dyads of clients with SPID and professional caregivers prior to CB in several Dutch residential institutes. Client-caregiver dyads will wear the Empatica E4 wristband for 20 sessions of 3 to 8 hours without interruptions of daily routines while caregivers report clients’ CB. The physiological measures obtained will be electrodermal activity (microsiemens) and heart rate (beats per minute). A multilevel model with repeated measures at the incident level nested within the person level will be applied, employing separate models for electrodermal activity and heart rate to compare stress levels in the 30 minutes prior to incidents with control epochs. Covariates in the models include movement, temperature, and gender. In addition, cross-recurrence quantification analyses will be performed to study the synchronization between the stress levels of clients and professional caregivers. RESULTS The Ethics Committee of the Radboud University (NL-number: NL71683.091.19) approved the study on February 12, 2020. In total, 15 organizations have declared their commitment to participate in the study. The first result is expected in the spring of 2022. CONCLUSIONS Study results will demonstrate whether changes in patterns of electrodermal activity and heart rate are apparent in the 30 minutes preceding an incident of CB compared to baseline levels when the client does not engage in CB. The synchronization between caregivers’ and clients’ physiological stress levels will be explored with cross-recurrence quantification analyses. Insights into the physiological stress levels of clients and caregivers may contribute to a reduction of CB and an improvement of both clients’ and caregivers’ safety and well-being. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/24911

scholarly journals Physiological Measurements of Stress Preceding Incidents of Challenging Behavior in People With Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities: Longitudinal Study Protocol of Single-Case Studies

10.2196/24911 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. e24911
Author(s):  
Rianne Simons ◽  
Renske Koordeman ◽  
Peter de Looff ◽  
Roy Otten
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Challenging Behavior ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Recurrence Quantification ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Cross Recurrence Quantification

Background Clients with severe to profound intellectual disabilities (SPID) and challenging behavior (CB) and the professional caregivers that support them are vulnerable to high stress levels, which negatively impact their well-being and the quality of care. CB is thought to result from an increase in the intensity and frequency of clients’ stress experiences. In turn, staff members experience stress in dealing with this behavior, and stressed staff members might behave in ways that increase clients’ stress levels, contributing to the origin and maintenance of CB. Research into these dyadic interactions between clients and staff is scarce for people with SPID, especially in real-life situations. The barriers of studying stress in this population include clients’ difficulties in communicating stress experiences and the lack of an objective continuous measure of stress. Objective This paper presents a protocol for studying patterns of physiological stress in 15 client-caregiver dyads in the 30 minutes preceding incidents of CB compared to control periods without CB and the interplay between the stress levels of clients and professional caregivers. Methods We will conduct 15 single-case studies to assess patterns of physiological stress in dyads of clients with SPID and professional caregivers prior to CB in several Dutch residential institutes. Client-caregiver dyads will wear the Empatica E4 wristband for 20 sessions of 3 to 8 hours without interruptions of daily routines while caregivers report clients’ CB. The physiological measures obtained will be electrodermal activity (microsiemens) and heart rate (beats per minute). A multilevel model with repeated measures at the incident level nested within the person level will be applied, employing separate models for electrodermal activity and heart rate to compare stress levels in the 30 minutes prior to incidents with control epochs. Covariates in the models include movement, temperature, and gender. In addition, cross-recurrence quantification analyses will be performed to study the synchronization between the stress levels of clients and professional caregivers. Results The Ethics Committee of the Radboud University (NL-number: NL71683.091.19) approved the study on February 12, 2020. In total, 15 organizations have declared their commitment to participate in the study. The first result is expected in the spring of 2022. Conclusions Study results will demonstrate whether changes in patterns of electrodermal activity and heart rate are apparent in the 30 minutes preceding an incident of CB compared to baseline levels when the client does not engage in CB. The synchronization between caregivers’ and clients’ physiological stress levels will be explored with cross-recurrence quantification analyses. Insights into the physiological stress levels of clients and caregivers may contribute to a reduction of CB and an improvement of both clients’ and caregivers’ safety and well-being. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/24911

scholarly journals Acute relaxation during pregnancy leads to a reduction in maternal electrodermal activity, changes in cardiovascular activity and subjective stress levels depending on the week of gestation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilena Bauer ◽  
Julia Hartkopf ◽  
Anna-Karin Wikström ◽  
Nora Schaal ◽  
Hubert Preissl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Stress Levels

Background: Prenatal maternal stress can have adverse effects on birth outcomes and fetal development. Relaxation techniques have been examined as one potential countermeasure. This study investigates different relaxation techniques and their effect on mood and physiological stress levels in pregnant women.Methods: 36 pregnant women (30 to 40 weeks of gestation) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: music, guided imagery or resting. Dependent measures included self-report questionnaires, subjective ratings of stress levels as well as physiological measures, i.e. cardiovascular and electrodermal activity.Results: All three forms of relaxation led to reduced maternal stress: decreased heart rate and decreased skin conductance levels. Based on heart rate, skin conductance level and stress ratings there were no significant differences between relaxation interventions. Subjective post-intervention stress ratings indicated that more relaxation occured after intervention in earlier gestation than in late gestation.Conclusion: Independent of relaxation technique, a 20-minute period of acute relaxation can reduce maternal stress. Notably, women earlier in pregnancy reported to be more relaxed after the intervention than women later in gestation. Hence, gestational age can influence perceived stress levels and should be considered when evaluating relaxation or stress management interventions during pregnancy.

scholarly journals The Effects of Open Space on Reducing Workplace Stress: Case Study of Business Park in the Post-Socialist Urban Setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 336
Author(s):  
Jelena Maric ◽  
Djukic Aleksandra ◽  
Branislav Antonic ◽  
Danilo Furundzic ◽  
Vladimir Parezanin
Keyword(s):  
Business Performance ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Stress Levels

Working people spend around 54% of their waking hours at a workplace, according to recent statistics. Work-related stress is unavoidable, and it can damage the health of employees and affect business performance. In this paper, we argue that open space inside the workplace environment can have a positive influence on reducing overall stress levels in all the categories of users. To our knowledge, there is a significant lack of research considering specific business districts and the gated complexes called business parks, especially in post-socialist Eastern European cities, where there they are still a novelty. Empirical research in this study is on the single case study of Business Park “Airport city” in Belgrade, Serbia. Its main focus is on the survey conducted with 235 participants based on a questionnaire, which examines the relation between workplace stress and workplace environments. The findings from the questionnaire show that the frequency, duration, and activity of open space usage influence the stress levels of employees in this specific workplace, while it is not visible relating to their age and gender. Additionally, final implications suggest that improved open space, such as well-expected greenery, but also the urban design non-associative to workspace and the socialization and exercise amenities customized for frequent and short work breaks, can facilitate the overall well-being of employees. They are innovative elements in relatively underdeveloped research on stress measures with open space usage characteristics in the specific (gated) workplace setting.

scholarly journals Trends in Heart-Rate Variability Signal Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syem Ishaque ◽  
Naimul Khan ◽  
Sri Krishnan
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
Video Gaming ◽  
Clinical Events ◽  
Learning Techniques

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the rate of variability between each heartbeat with respect to time. It is used to analyse the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), a control system used to modulate the body's unconscious action such as cardiac function, respiration, digestion, blood pressure, urination, and dilation/constriction of the pupil. This review article presents a summary and analysis of various research works that analyzed HRV associated with morbidity, pain, drowsiness, stress and exercise through signal processing and machine learning methods. The points of emphasis with regards to HRV research as well as the gaps associated with processes which can be improved to enhance the quality of the research have been discussed meticulously. Restricting the physiological signals to Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electrodermal activity (EDA), photoplethysmography (PPG), and respiration (RESP) analysis resulted in 25 articles which examined the cause and effect of increased/reduced HRV. Reduced HRV was generally associated with increased morbidity and stress. High HRV normally indicated good health, and in some instances, it could signify clinical events of interest such as drowsiness. Effective analysis of HRV during ambulatory and motion situations such as exercise, video gaming, and driving could have a significant impact toward improving social well-being. Detection of HRV in motion is far from perfect, situations involving exercise or driving reported accuracy as high as 85% and as low as 59%. HRV detection in motion can be improved further by harnessing the advancements in machine learning techniques.

scholarly journals Welfare of a pair of Captive Tigers: a Hand-Reared Female and a Parent-Reared Male

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 545-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Bertocchi ◽  
Spiezio Caterina ◽  
Di Ianni Francesco ◽  
Macchi Elisabetta ◽  
Parmigiani Enrico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Behavioral Data ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Fecal Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Species Specific

Animal welfare assessment has undergone considerable development. The management and rearing of big cats may lead these animals to express behavioral problems. This study was performed to assess the well-being of a non-breeding pair of Siberian tigers using ethological and physiological parameters. During the day, the animals were kept together in the outdoor exhibit, whereas overnight the tigers were individually housed. Twenty 45-min sessions were run for each subject. The Focal Animal Sampling method was used to record individual and social behaviors. In addition, fecal cortisol levels were monitored and determined by enzyme immunoassay. Single case analysis was run to analyze behavioral data and cortisol levels. Findings highlight that species-specific behaviors were performed by both animals. However, significant differences between the two tigers were observed in stress-related behaviors: the female showed stereotypic behavior, whereas the male did not. No significant differences in fecal cortisol levels were observed. Results suggest that the ethological parameters could be more sensitive than the physiological ones in detecting a stressful condition. Analyzing behavioral data together with physiological stress markers may allow for a more complete assessment of animal welfare.

scholarly journals Smartphone App Stress Assessments: Heart Rate Variability vs Perceived Stress in a Large Group of Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin Tyapochkin ◽  
Marina Kovaleva ◽  
Evgeniya Smorodnikova ◽  
Pavel Pravdin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
The State ◽  
Heart Rate Variability Analysis ◽  
Variability Analysis ◽  
Stress Levels

ABSTRACTBackgroundMultiple studies have shown that the state of stress has a negative impact on decision-making, the cardiovascular system, and the autonomic nervous system [1]. In light of this, we have developed a mobile application in order to assess user stress levels based on the state of their physiological systems. This assessment is based on heart rate variability [2], [3], [4], [5], which many wearable devices such as Apple Watch have learned to measure in the background. We developed a proprietary algorithm that assesses stress levels based on heart rate variability analysis, and this research paper shows that assessments positively correlate with subjective feelings of stress experienced by users.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to study the relationship between HRV-based physiological stress responses and Perceived Stress Questionnaire self-assessments in order to validate Welltory measurements as a tool that can be used for daily stress measurements.SettingWe analyzed data from Welltory app users, which is publicly available and free of charge. The app allows users to complete the Perceived Stress Questionnaire and take heart rate variability measurements, either with Apple Watch or with their smartphone cameras.SubjectsTo conduct our study, we collected all questionnaire results from users between the ages of 25 and 60 who also took a heart rate variability measurement on the same day, after filling out the Questionnaire. In total, this research paper includes results from 1,471 participants (602 men and 869 women).MeasurementsWe quantitatively measured physiological stress based on AMo, pNN50, and MedSD values, which were calculated based on sequences of RR-intervals recorded with the Welltory app. We assessed psychological stress levels based on the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) [6], [7].ResultsPhysiological stress reliably correlates with self-assessed psychological stress levels - low for subjects with low psychological stress levels, medium for subjects with medium psychological stress levels, and high for subjects with high psychological stress levels. On a scale of 0-100%, median physiological stress is 48.7 (95% CI of 45.2-50.7%), 56.4 (95% CI of 54.3-58.9), and 62.5 (95% CI of 59.7-66.3) for these groups, respectively.ConclusionsPhysiological stress response, which is calculated based on heart rate variability analysis, on average increases as psychological stress increases. Our results show that HRV measurements significantly correlate with perceived psychological stress, and can therefore be used as a stress assessment tool.

scholarly journals RECOVARI – Efficacy and Safety of Massage on Surgical Stress in Colorectal Cancer Patients: Study Protocol for A Randomized Controlled, Three-Arm Parallel Group, Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Georg Werthmann ◽  
Dirk Cysarz ◽  
Johannes Naumann ◽  
Monique van Dijk ◽  
Roman Huber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Surgical Stress ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Parallel Group ◽  
Stress Relieving

Abstract • Background: Patients’ physiological stress reactions to surgery have been ameliorated by refining surgical techniques, and improving pain therapy. Moreover, another way to reduce stress could be the use of Rhythmical embrocation (RE), a type of bodily massage applied with soft strokes, which has been shown to reduce the subject’s pulse rate and blood pressure. This trial will investigate whether RE is effective to reduce stress, and what effects it exerts on sleep quality, nausea and vomiting, pain, medication consumption, mood, mobility, and length of hospital. Furthermore, the occurrence of complications associated with RE will be established. • Methods: A randomized controlled, three-arm parallel group trial will include 60 patients with colorectal cancer scheduled for surgery, randomized into three different intervention groups: (1) RE performed by professionals, (2) RE performed by students; and (3) empathic conversation. The intervention will be performed twice daily over four consecutive postoperative days. Before and after the intervention days, heart rate variability (primary outcome) will be established overnight as a measure of stress. The patients will fill out questionnaires on pain, sleep, nausea/vomiting and well-being. Possible complications from RE will be recorded daily. Vital signs, medication and surgery data will be retrieved from the patient record. Nursing students will be interviewed about job satisfaction, empathy and their identification with RE.• Discussion: Massage has been shown to have stress relieving effects. However, it’s effectiveness in clinical settings is rarely investigated. With the postoperative setting we investigate massage in a situation of high physiological stress. Reduction of stress perioperatively has shown to reduce complications and improve recovery. With heart rate variability we include a physiologic, objective parameter to supplement them against the questionnaire responses of patients. Massage might reduce stress in stressful situations in healthcare and contribute to a better outcome of these patients. Trial registration: The trial has been registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) under the ID DRKS00023407 on 2nd November 2020. The trial was approved by the ethics committee of the University Medical Center Freiburg under the number 356/20 on 20th October 2020.

scholarly journals Effects on Heart Rate Variability of Stress Level Responses to the Properties of Indoor Environmental Colors: A Preliminary Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (17) ◽  
pp. 9136
Author(s):  
Jiyoung Oh ◽  
Haengwoo Lee ◽  
Heykyung Park
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Stress Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Vision ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Indoor Space ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Measurement Record ◽  
Reliable Scale

Color is the most potent stimulating factor affecting human vision, and the environmental color of an indoor space is a spatial component that affects the environmental stress level. As one of the methods of assessing the physiological response of the autonomic nervous system that influences stress, heart rate variability (HRV) has been utilized as a tool for measuring the user’s stress response in color environments. This study aims to identify the effects of the changes of hue, brightness, and saturation in environmental colors on the HRV of two groups with different stress levels—the stress potential group (n = 15) and the healthy group (n = 12)—based on their stress level indicated by the Psychosocial Well-being Index (PWI). The ln(LF), ln(HF), and RMSSD values collected during the subjects’ exposure to 12 environments colors of red and yellow with adjusted saturation and brightness, were statistically analyzed using t-test and two-way ANOVA. The results show that the HRV values in the two groups did not significantly vary in response to the changes in hue, brightness and saturation. The two groups’ stress factors distinguished according to the stress levels by the PWI scale affected the In(LF) parameter, which demonstrates that the PWI index can be utilized as a reliable scale for measuring stress levels. The ultra-short HRV measurement record and the use of a sole In(LF) parameter for stress assessment are regarded as the limitations of this study.

scholarly journals ’n Vergelyking tussen die kardiostres-indekse van ’n aktiewe en ’n sedentêre populasie

2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peet Du Toit ◽  
Paola Wood ◽  
Catherina C. Grant ◽  
Evangeline Nortje ◽  
Michael Kleynhans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Vascular Pathology ◽  
Tertiary Institution ◽  
Active Population ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
The Impact

Our modern lifestyle often results in the importance of physical exercise being overlooked. The increasingly passive way of life has resulted in a notable increase in the prevalence of lifestyle disorders, such as hypertension and some forms of vascular pathology. This study compares the cardio-stress indices (CSIs) of active and sedentary individuals to provide insight into the impact of the significant changes that have taken place in the modernised society. The active population consisted of 217 military recruits who had completed 20 weeks of basic military training. The sedentary population (n = 126) was sourced from a traditional tertiary institution where the focus is on attending lectures. Participants from both populations were required to attend three testing sessions, which were held during Week 1, Week 12 and Week 20. Subjects underwent a non-invasive ViportTM test to measure their CSI, heart rate and QRS duration. The results showed that although baseline readings for CSI, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were initially higher among the active population, the commencement of the physical training programme resulted in a steady decline in respect of these three factors to approach healthier margins. However, the CSI for neither population reached the normal range, indicating that although physical activity reduces physiological stress levels, other key factors, namely lifestyle stress levels, must also be taken into account. The study supports the notion that increased physical activity has the potential to reduce the predisposition of an individual to cardiovascular disorders and contributes towards establishing the effect of training on heart health by using CSI as a means of measurement.

Recovery from Strain under Different Work/Rest Schedules

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 785-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfram Boucsein ◽  
Michael Thum
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Computer Work ◽  
European Patent ◽  
Mental Strain ◽  
Rest Break ◽  
Pulse Wave Transit Time ◽  
Psychophysiological Recovery ◽  
Emotional Strain

Measures of psychophysiological recovery were used to evaluate two rest break schedules; 7.5 minutes of rest after every 50 minutes of work versus 15 minutes of rest after every 100 minutes of work. Eleven examiners using a prototype computer system in the European Patent Office worked under both work/rest schedules. Electrodermal activity, heart rate, respiratory frequency, pulse wave transit time, neck electromyogram, and gross body movements were continuously recorded. Measures of emotional well-being and body comfort were obtained eight times per work day. Heart rate variability was significantly higher under the short break schedule, indicating decreased mental strain. Break duration and time of measurement interacted significantly for electrodermal responses, indicating that emotional strain was reduced under the short break schedule until mid-day, and under the long break schedule in the afternoon. The results indicate that a switch to longer breaks in the afternoon may be favorable during highly demanding computer work. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that psychophysiological measures are useful for the evaluation of work/rest schedules, even if performance data are not available.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document