Abstract
The present study was performed to clarify the influence of having a firm purpose in life (PIL) on psychological and physical stresses. Participants were 59 subjects (19 males and 40 fe- males) with a mean age of 30.9 years (standard deviation, 12.1; range, 18 - 68 years). We used a mental arithmetic (MA) test as a goaloriented stressor; the test was supposed to be finished before a time limit expired without using pencil and paper. We used a PIL test to assess the intensity of personal meaning in one’s life, an interest in mental arithmetic test (IMAT) to assess the intensity of interest in the MA test, and an anxiety inventory (AI) to assess the anxiety level of before and during the MA test. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and nose tip temperature (NTT) were recorded before and after MA. We used logistic regression modeling to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of independent variables of age, sex, PIL test score, AI score, HR, SBP, DBP, and NTT before the MA test. Multivariate-adjusted models showed that PIL test scores prior to the MA test significantly predicted the observed changes in AI score and HR. Other variables were not significant predictors. In conclusion, we found that a firm PIL decreased anxiety under psychological stress as measured with the MA test, even with objective evaluation by others. Having a firm PIL also lowered the response of the sympathetic nervous system to psych0logical stress.
Highlights
Physical and psychological stresses can cause anxiety and simultaneously activate the sympathetic nervous system [1,2]
The basic characteristics of the subjects as sex, age, and in mental arithmetic test (IMAT) score did not differ between the firm PIL (FPIL) and weak PIL (WPIL) groups (Table 1)
anxiety inventory (AI) score, Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) significantly increased during/after the mental arithmetic (MA) test compared with the values before the test, whereas nose tip temperature (NTT) significantly decreased after the MA test (Table 2)
Summary
Physical and psychological stresses can cause anxiety and simultaneously activate the sympathetic nervous system [1,2]. A “will” to seek meaning in life or to achieve purpose in life (PIL) is significantly associated with intrinsic motivation to get satisfaction and/or pleasure from an act [3,4]. Persons with a firm PIL are less sensitive to physical and psychological stresses [5]. People exhibiting a Type A behavior pattern, characterized by traits such as impatience, aggressiveness, strong approval motivation, and a chronic struggle to achieve one’s goal, are much more sensitive to stressors [6,7]. It has been reported that type A behavior tended to increase sympathetic nervous activity, generate reactive oxygen species, and cause secretion of -endorphin [1, 6,7,8]. It is known that type A behavior is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) [7]
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