The Effects of Job Stress on the Autonomic Nerve Activity of Workers in Manufacturing Industry.
- Author:
Ki Jung YOON
1
;
Mi Na HA
;
Jai Young KIM
;
Sang Yun LEE
;
Hyoung June IM
;
Ae Sun SHIN
;
Seung Sik HWANG
;
Jeong Soo KIM
;
Dae Hee KANG
;
Soo Hun CHO
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea. kjyaho@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Job Stress;
Heart rate variability;
Cardiovascular disease
- MeSH:
Autonomic Pathways*;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Catecholamines;
Chungcheongnam-do;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Drinking;
Heart Rate;
Korea;
Norepinephrine;
Questionnaires;
Smoke;
Smoking
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
2002;14(3):280-287
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
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.
