Subjective versus Objective Assessment of Short Term Occupational Stress: Bias and Analysis of Self-Assessment of High Stress Levels

Aims: Experiments undertaken with two professions (engineers and anesthesiologists) have shown the possible overestimation of perceived stress by subjects when self-assessing stress through questionnaires for high levels of acute stress. Previous analyses having demonstrated that the overestimation was effective, the present study aimed at analyzing a possible effect due to professional traits.Study Design:Data were compared with models of professional personality: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator approach, Holland’s theory of careers and vocational choice and the Five-Factor model of personality.Place and Duration of Study:Data from previous studies were used: A sample of engineers working at the nuclear power plant of Chinon in France (published in 2014) and a sample of anesthesiologists working at the University Hospital of Angers, France (published in 2015).Methodology:Anesthesiologists (N=11, 50% male, 25 to 35 years old) experienced a stress episode in an operating theater simulator. Engineers (N=8, 38% male, 25 to 35 years old) underwent a stress-test in their office. Heart rate was measured for each subject. Comparison was examined between the stress perceived by the subjects through the Post-traumatic Disorder Inventory and the expected levels of stress estimated using the heart rate data. Characterization of the difference was undertaken using models of professional personality.Results:While a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator approach did not provide any relevant information, an approach based on Holland’s theory of careers and vocational choice and on the Five-Factor model of personality showed that overestimation of stress was linked with occupational preoccupations specific to the professions. Limitations, perspectives and scientific implications are discussed.Conclusion:As a major recommendation for researchers, during experiments inducing high levels of acute stress, it is worth to consider the possibility to compare self-assessment of stress with physiological measurements in order to detect a possible overestimation of perceived stress

Associations between Subjective Stress Level, Health-Related Habits, and Obesity according to Gender

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subjective stress level on health-related habits, as well as the effect of the interaction between health-related habits and stress level on obesity in Koreans. METHODS: This study analyzed the subjective stress level and health-related habits, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, eating habits, and anthropometrics, of 15,474 subjects older than 20 years according to gender using data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V) database. RESULTS: Women tended to have a higher subjective stress level than men (P<0.001). Both men and women with high subjective stress level showed poor alcohol consumption and smoking habits compared to those with low subjective stress level. Among men, greater consumption of alcohol (P<0.001), AUDIT score (P<0.001), smoking quantity (P<0.001), and frequency of eating-out (P=0.019) were associated with higher BMI. In contrast, a greater consumption of alcohol (P<0.001) and higher AUDIT score (P=0.016) were associated with higher BMI in women. Men with a higher alcohol consumption were associated with an increased risk of obesity, regardless of subjective stress level (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a gender-specific difference in stress level based on differences in health-related habits that affect obesity.

The Association of Subjective Stress, Urinary Catecholamine Concentrations and PC Game Room Use and Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Limbs in Young Male Koreans

The use of PCs can cause health problems, including musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the upper limbs. This study was performed to investigate whether using PCs in PC game rooms may induce MSDs of the upper limbs. 284 young male Koreans were included. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to gather information about game room use, perceived subjective stress, and the symptoms related to MSDs. Urinary concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine were measured in spot urine. The symptom prevalence of MSDs of the upper limbs increased according to the increase of the duration of game room use. The intensity of perceived subjective stress showed a significant dose-response relationship with the frequency of MSDs symptoms in neck and shoulder areas. However, the urinary level of catecholamines was not significantly correlated with the symptom prevalence of MSDs in the upper limbs. These findings suggest that using PCs in game rooms produce physical stress on the upper limbs, strong enough to induce MSDs.

Effects of Back Massage with Lavender Essence Oil on the Stress Response of the ICU Nurses / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This quasi-experimental study was to explore the effects of back massage with Lavender essence oil on the stress response of the ICU nurses. METHOD: Twenty nurses were selected as an experimental group and twenty nurses were in the control group. Lavender essence oil mixed with Jojova carrier oil was used to massage the neck, shoulder, back, and low back. Massage was done three times a week for 20 minutes for 2 weeks by the massage therapist. The stress response was measured with a subjective stress score, Cortisol and IgA level in saliva. The cortisol level in saliva was analyzed by an radioimmunoassay before and after back massage. The level of IgA in saliva was analyzed by an immunoturbidimeter assay and subjective stress scores was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. The data was analyzed using SPSS 8.0 and the hypotheses were tested by ANCOVA and the Pearson coefficient correlation. RESULT: 1) Score of subjective stress decreased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 2) Level of Cortisol in saliva did not change significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 3) Level of IgA in saliva increased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 4) After the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil, there was significant negative correlation between subjective stress and level of IgA in saliva. CONCLUSION: Back massage with Lavender essence oil is an effective intervention to reduce the stress response in the ICU nurses.