Dependence of Heart Rate Variability on Stress Factors of Stress Response Inventory

Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is commonly used as a quantitative marker depicting the activity of autonomic nervous system (ANS) related to mental stress. Stress response inventory (SRI) has been devised to score mental and physical symptoms occurred during the past two weeks. SRI is composed of seven stress factors that may influence the status of mental stress levels. In this study, we investigated the relationships of physiological measures and HRV features on ages and stress factors. Physiological measures and HRV features in low (SRI scores: 7.1 plusmn 4.1, n=225) and high stress group (22.5 plusmn 7.4, n=135) were compared with age as the covariate (ANCOVA). Age was reconfirmed as a significant factor influencing physiological measures and most of HRV features. Age was also inversely correlated to stress factor scores. Systolic blood pressure, glucose level, and normalized HF were significantly lower, whereas body temperature, LF/HF, and normalized LF were significantly higher in high stress group. Our results showed that stress levels were associated with ages, physiological measures, and HRV features.