title: Effects of the physical work environment on physiological measures of stress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study we investigated the effects of the physical work environment on two physiological measures of the stress response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circadian variations in vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) and the morning rise in cortisol were evaluated in 60 participants working in a government building either in a traditional (individual offices and old cubicles; n=40) or a modern workspace (individualized cubicles with improved views and lighting; n=20). Results revealed significant linear (B=-1.03; confidence interval: -1.05 to -1.01, P<0.05) and quadratic (B=1.001; confidence interval: 1.0004-1.002, P<0.05) trends by office type interactions for indices of vagally mediated HRV. Individuals in the old office space had flatter slopes and thus less circadian variation including less HRV at night, and a larger rise in cortisol upon awakening compared with those in the new office space.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that physical features of the work environment may affect two aspects of the physiological stress response: circadian variations in HRV and the morning rise in cortisol. These findings have important social, economic, and public health implications for work environment risk factors on health.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verkuil
authors.forename: Jos F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brosschot
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kampschroer
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sterling
authors.forename: Israel C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Darrell R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Abernethy
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sollers
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cizza
authors.forename: Andrea H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Esther M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003120:Colorado; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016272:Occupational Health; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone
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