A1 Journal article (refereed)
Measuring psychosocial stress with heart rate variability-based methods in different health and age groups (2022)

Seipäjärvi, S. M., Tuomola, A., Juurakko, J., Rottensteiner, M., Rissanen, A.-P. E., Kurkela, J. L. O., Kujala, U. M., Laukkanen, J. A., & Wikgren, J. (2022). Measuring psychosocial stress with heart rate variability-based methods in different health and age groups. Physiological Measurement, 43(5), Article 055002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6579/ac6b7c

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Seipäjärvi, Santtu M.; Tuomola, Anniina; Juurakko, Joona; Rottensteiner, Mirva; Rissanen, Antti-Pekka E.; Kurkela, Jari L. O.; Kujala, Urho M.; Laukkanen, Jari A.; Wikgren, Jan

Journal or series: Physiological Measurement

ISSN: 0967-3334

eISSN: 1361-6579

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 25/05/2022

Volume: 43

Issue number: 5

Article number: 055002

Publisher: IOP Publishing

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6579/ac6b7c

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81977

Abstract

Objective. Autonomic nervous system function and thereby bodily stress and recovery reactions may be assessed by wearable devices measuring heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV). So far, the validity of HRV-based stress assessments has been mainly studied in healthy populations. In this study, we determined how psychosocial stress affects physiological and psychological stress responses in both young (18–30 years) and middle-aged (45–64 years) healthy individuals as well as in patients with arterial hypertension and/or either prior evidence of prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. We also studied how an HRV-based stress index (Relax-Stress Intensity, RSI) relates to perceived stress (PS) and cortisol (CRT) responses during psychosocial stress. Approach. A total of 197 participants were divided into three groups: (1) healthy young (HY, N = 63), (2) healthy middle-aged (HM, N = 61) and (3) patients with cardiometabolic risk factors (Pts, N = 73, 32–65 years). The participants underwent a group version of Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-G). HR, HRV (quantified as root mean square of successive differences of R–R intervals, RMSSD), RSI, PS, and salivary CRT were measured regularly during TSST-G and a subsequent recovery period. Main results. All groups showed significant stress reactions during TSST-G as indicated by significant responses of HR, RMSSD, RSI, PS, and salivary CRT. Between-group differences were also observed in all measures. Correlation and regression analyses implied RSI being the strongest predictor of CRT response, while HR was more closely associated with PS. Significance. The HRV-based stress index mirrors responses of CRT, which is an independent marker for physiological stress, around TSST-G. Thus, the HRV-based stress index may be used to quantify physiological responses to psychosocial stress across various health and age groups.

Keywords: stress (biological phenomena); psychosocial factors; physiological effects; measuring methods; pulse; heart rate monitors; psychophysiology; cardiovascular diseases

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

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