Responses of the autonomic nervous system during periods of perceived high and low work stress in younger and older female teachers.
The aim of this study was to examine the response of the autonomic nervous system in younger (mean age 31 yrs, n=14) and older (mean age 54 yrs, n=14) healthy female teachers during work periods of perceived high and low stress. In the younger participants, heart rate, cortisol excretion rate and psychosomatic symptoms were significantly higher during the high work stress period. The older participants experienced no decrease in their heart rate and cortisol excretion during the low stress period and they exhibited no significant decrease in blood pressure after the work in the evening during both periods. It may be concluded that the recovery from the stress in the older teachers was insufficient particularly in view of their elevated diastolic blood pressure during the low work stress period. Ergonomic and individually tailored measures in terms of work time control, specific relaxation techniques, and a part-time retirement may improve the stress management of older teachers.
Ritvanen
Tiina
T
Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Louhevaara
Veikko
V
Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Helin
Pertti
P
Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Väisänen
Sari
S
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Hänninen
Osmo
O
Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology