scholarly journals Physiological Stress Responses Associated with High-Risk Occupational Duties

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer F. Chan ◽  
Judith P. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Physiological Markers ◽  
Additive Risks ◽  
Subjective Reports

Occupational stress is a pervasive problem that is relevant across the world. Stress, in combination with occupational hazards, may pose additive risks for health and wellbeing. This chapter discusses the influence of physical and psychosocial stressors on basal cortisol regulation as associated with higher-risk occupational duties among two subspecialties of police officers (frontline and special tactical unit officers). Results reveal significant differences in dysregulated cortisol awakening response associated with the higher risk duties among special tactical unit officers. In contrast, frontline officers with a lower objective occupational risk profiles report higher subjective stress levels. Dysregulated or maladaptive cortisol levels are associated with increased health risk. Thus, individuals working in high stress occupations with elevated cortisol profiles may be at increased risk of chronic health conditions. Results suggest that considering both objective physiological markers and subjective reports of stress are dually important aspects in designing interventions for police officers of differing subspecialties.

scholarly journals Association between caloric intake and work-related stress among nurses in two district hospitals in Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
Nagumsi Nuhu ◽  
Joana K Ainuson-Quampah Ainuson-Quampah ◽  
Charles A Brown
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
World Health ◽  
District Hospitals ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Background: The nursing profession is generally perceived as tedious and stressful and has been shown to be associated with inappropriate caloric intake with its attending consequences of obesity and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Objective: This study examined caloric intake and stress levels among nurses.Methods: A cross sectional study design was used, and a total of 85 nurses were sampled from two district level hospitals. Physiological and psychological levels of stress were measured using Salivary Cortisol Enzyme Immunoassay and the Cooper’s life stress inventory questionnaire, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) using height and weight measurements and caloric intake (using food frequency questionnaire and the 24h recall of participants) were also determined. Stress levels were compared to caloric intakes using the Pearson’s correlation test. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists, Version 21. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Participants were mostly females(90.60%) with a mean age±[standard deviation (SD)]of 34.86 ± 6.27 yr.and majority of them (68.20%) were married. More than half (52.94%) of the nurses were in the World Health Organization classification of overweight, with a mean BMI (±SD)of 26.11 ± 2.96 kg/m2. Their mean caloric intake (±SD) off duty (2368.74 ± 259.67 kcal) was significantly higher (p˂ 0.001) compared to that on duty (1784.80 ± 402.84 kcal). When off duty compared to on duty, the nurses also recorded significantly higher (p< 0.001) mean physiological stress scores(±SD)(61.18 ± 7.42 vs 17.12 ± 7.15) and salivary cortisol levels(±SD)(11.79 ± 1.06 μg/μL vs 5.10 ± 1.02 μg/μL). Significant positive correlations were observed for total caloric intakes and salivary cortisol levels for the nurses, both on duty [r = 0.585; 95% confidence interval(CI),0.425-0.780;p<0.001]and off duty (r= 0.316;95% CI, 0.113-0.498;p<0.003).Conclusion:The nurses had high stress levels whiles on duty and this was associated with low caloric intakes. Excessive caloric intakes were observed during off duty periods and associated with relatively lower stress levels.

scholarly journals Central Adiposity and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Police Officers

ISRN Obesity ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Baughman ◽  
Desta Fekedulegn ◽  
Michael E. Andrew ◽  
Parveen Nedra Joseph ◽  
Joan M. Dorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Occupational Group ◽  
Central Adiposity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Subclinical Cvd

Given the associations between obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD), we evaluated a related but less well-established association between waist circumference and brachial artery reactivity (BAR), a functional measurement of subclinical CVD, where lower levels indicate dysfunction. Regression models examined trends in mean BAR across waist circumference tertiles in police officers, a high-stress occupational group with increased risk for CVD. Mean BAR decreased across increasing waist tertiles among men, but not women, and this association was stronger among officers who consumed more alcohol. Larger waist circumference may be associated with lower BAR, providing an opportunity for intervention prior to disease development.

Designing meditation for doctor well-being: can ‘Om’ help obstetrics and gynaecology doctors?

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosie Allen ◽  
Andrew Robinson ◽  
Shelley Allen ◽  
Elizabeth Nathan ◽  
Edwina Coghlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Brain Wave ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynaecology ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The study aimed to measure the impact of meditation on participants’ ability to regulate brain wave activity in high-stress situations, control physiological stress responses and improve subjective wellbeing. Methods: Twelve obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) doctors meditated for 20 minutes daily for 21 days utilising a portable EEG (electroencephalogram) providing instantaneous audio feedback. Their brain activity levels and salivary cortisol were measured before and after performing three surgical procedures. Participants were interviewed about their experiences and completed self-ratings of distress (e.g. DASS-21, Depression, Anxiety and Depression Scale). Data were analysed statistically and thematically. Results: (a) Measures of pre- and post-operative brain activity showed no significantly higher levels of alpha waves. (b) Pre- and post-operative salivary cortisol levels did not significantly decrease. (c) DASS-21 scores showed significant decreases in levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusion: Results suggest that, with biofeedback meditation, O&G doctors can learn to reduce situational stress and improve mood overall through a focussed intervention.

scholarly journals Covariation between behaviour and physiology indicators of coping style in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

2013 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Tudorache ◽  
Marcel J M Schaaf ◽  
Hans Slabbekoorn
Keyword(s):  
Danio Rerio ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Coping Style ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Repeated Stress ◽  
Basal Cortisol ◽  
Cortisol Responses ◽  
First Time ◽  
Over Time

All vertebrates exhibit physiological responses to a wide variety of stressors. The amplitude and profile of the response depend on the intensity, duration, controllability and predictability of the stressor, but there is also individual variation in the response, termed coping style. A better understanding of the expression of coping styles is of great value for medical applications, animal welfare issues and conservation. Here, we investigated the effect of repeated netting stress on proactive and reactive zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an upcoming model system for stress research. Fish were separated by coping styles according to the order of entering a novel environment. Subsequently, repeated netting stress was applied as stressor, over a period of 21 days. Full-body cortisol levels were determined at 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after the last repeated stress event. Our results show that reactive fish display i) increased basal cortisol concentrations after being repeatedly stressed, ii) higher cortisol secretion over time and iii) slow recovery of cortisol concentration towards basal levels after the last repeated stress event. This study shows for the first time in zebrafish that different coping styles are associated with different cortisol responses during the recovery from stress over time and that coping styles can explain otherwise unaccounted variation in physiological stress responses.

Physiological Arousal of Beginning Counselors In Relation To Disabled And Non-Disabled Clients

1982 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Author(s):  
Charles Vander Kolk
Keyword(s):  
Stress Level ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Stress Reactions ◽  
Presenting Problems ◽  
Counselors In Training ◽  
Beginning Counselors ◽  
Physiological Reaction ◽  
High Stress Level

Physiological stress reactions to verbally-presented situations involving work with disabled clients or non-disabled clients with various presenting problems were examined in 42 counselors in training. Counselors in training were found to experience significant stress above baseline measures, toward all client groups with no significant differences in stress responses to disabled and non-disabled clients. Within groups, significantly more stress was measured only in response to cerebral palsied versus epilepic clients. Results suggest that beginning counselors experience a high stress level in relation to working with any type of client, and that the level of physiological reaction to clients will vary across individual counselors.

Emotions and health: The impact of emotions, emotions regulation, music, and acculturation on health

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Bongard ◽  
Volker Hodapp ◽  
Sonja Rohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Anger Expression ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Cardiovascular Stress ◽  
Expression Behavior ◽  
Cardio Vascular ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Our unit investigates the relationship of emotional processes (experience, expression, and coping), their physiological correlates and possible health outcomes. We study domain specific anger expression behavior and associated cardio-vascular loads and found e.g. that particularly an open anger expression at work is associated with greater blood pressure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that women may be predisposed for the development of certain mental disorders because of their higher disgust sensitivity. We also pointed out that the suppression of negative emotions leads to increased physiological stress responses which results in a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. We could show that relaxation as well as music activity like singing in a choir causes increases in the local immune parameter immunoglobuline A. Finally, we are investigating connections between migrants’ strategy of acculturation and health and found e.g. elevated cardiovascular stress responses in migrants when they where highly adapted to the German culture.

Associations between multisystem stress reactivity and peer nominated aggression in early childhood vary by sex

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1888-1898
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Hagan ◽  
Danielle S. Roubinov ◽  
W. Thomas Boyce ◽  
Nicole R. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Peer Ratings ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

AbstractThere is emerging evidence that the development of problematic aggression in childhood may be associated with specific physiological stress response patterns, with both biological overactivation and underactivation implicated. This study tested associations between sex-specific patterns of stress responses across the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and peer nominations of aggression among 271 kindergarten children (Mean age = 5.32 years; 52% Female; 44% White). Upon entry to kindergarten, children participated in a multidomain standardized stress paradigm. Changes in pre-ejection period (PEP) and salivary cortisol were assessed. On a separate day, children provided peer ratings of physical and relational aggression in a standardized interview. As expected, there was a significant three-way interaction between PEP, cortisol reactivity, and sex, but only for physical aggression. Among boys, cortisol reactivity was positively associated with physical aggression only for those with higher SNS reactivity. Findings suggest that for boys, asymmetrical and symmetrical HPA/SNS reactivity may be associated with lower and higher risk for peer-directed physical aggression, respectively. Understanding the complex associations between multisystem physiology, child sex and peer-directed aggression in early childhood may offer insight into individual differences underlying the emergence of behavioral dysregulation in early peer contexts.

scholarly journals The Psychosocial Work Environment and Perceived Stress among Seniors with Physically Demanding Jobs: The SeniorWorkingLife Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7437
Author(s):  
Jonas Vinstrup ◽  
Annette Meng ◽  
Emil Sundstrup ◽  
Lars L. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Organizational Factors ◽  
Work Conditions ◽  
Psychosocial Work Environment ◽  
Psychosocial Work ◽  
Decision Latitude ◽  
Collegial Support ◽  
Increased Risk

Background: Poor psychosocial work conditions are known to foster negative health consequences. While the existing literature on this topic focus mainly on white-collar workers, the influence of different aspects of the psychosocial work environment in physically demanding jobs remain understudied. Likewise, senior workers represent a population of the workforce at increased risk of adverse health outcomes and premature exit from the labour market. This study investigates the association between psychosocial work factors and perceived stress among the senior work force. Methods: Utilizing cross-sectional findings, this study reports associations between psychosocial factors (organizational justice, cooperation and collegial support, decision latitude, clarity of tasks, and quality of leadership) and the outcome of perceived stress quantified by Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Currently employed senior workers with physically demanding jobs were included in the analyses (n = 3386). Associations were modeled using general linear models with weights to make the estimates representative. Results: For all individually adjusted psychosocial variables, the category of “good” was consistently associated with lower stress scores compared to the categories of both “moderate” and “poor” (all p < 0.0001). Likewise, in the mutually adjusted analysis, the category of “good” was statistically different from “poor” for all included variables, while the category of “moderate” remained different from “poor” for “clarity of tasks”, “cooperation and collegial support”, and “decision latitude”. Conclusions: Among senior workers with physically demanding jobs, poor ratings of organizational factors related to the psychosocial work environment are consistently associated with high stress scores. Blue-collar occupations focusing primarily on physical risk factors are recommended to increase awareness on psychosocial aspects that may be relevant to the local work environment.

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