Non-work Day Research Articles

Mental health, challenging behaviour, diagnosis, and access to employment for people with intellectual disabilities in Norway.

Studies have found that presence of challenging behaviours and mental health problems limits employment for people with intellectual disabilities. This study investigates the associations between age, gender, living condition, level of intellectual disability, diagnoses, behaviour, mental health, and employment in adults with intellectual disabilities in Norway. A cross-sectional community-based survey including 214 adult participants (56% men) with intellectual disabilities. In our sample, 25% had no organised day activity, 27% attended non-work day care, 19% attended sheltered employment, or day care with production, without pay and 29% worked in paid sheltered employment. One participant attended mainstream employment. Moderate and severe/profound level of intellectual disability, possible organic condition and irritability significantly reduced the odds of employment (paid and unpaid). Findings suggest unequal access to the sheltered employment that was meant to be inclusive. More individualised evaluation of prerequisites is suggested to further facilitate employment for this group.

Development of a community life engagement fidelity scale to assess and improve day services and supports

BACKGROUND: Despite an increase in supported employment, a large and growing number people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) still participate in non-work day services. Quality day services that lead to community life engagement (CLE) play an important role in both leading to and complementing competitive integrated employment. OBJECTIVE: Building off guideposts developed in previous research, we aimed to develop and test a new instrument, the CLE Fidelity Scale, for service providers to assess whether their day services and supports are well-designed to support CLE. METHODS: The research involved four steps: item generation based on existing instruments, a self-advocate review panel and Delphi panel for content adequacy assessment, piloting the instrument with service providers, and internal consistency assessment and factor analysis of the pilot data. RESULTS: The end product of these four activities was an 18-item CLEFS that loaded onto three components. The CLEFS also displayed strong content validity (CVR over 0.5 for all items) and interrater reliability (average α = .837). CONCLUSION: The CLEFS can be a useful tool for service providers and state agencies seeking to assess and improve day services and supports.

Nurses' sleep, work hours, and patient care quality, and safety

ObjectivesTo describe sleep duration and work characteristics among registered nurses (“nurses”) across health care settings and unit types and determine the association between sleep duration and quality of care and patient safety. DesignWe used an observational, retrospective design. Survey data were collected from two cohorts of nurses in 2015 and 2016. SettingHealth care and community settings across the United States, primarily acute care hospitals. ParticipantsNurses working in a staff or general duty position (N=1,568). MeasurementsThe independent variable was nurses' sleep duration before work and nonwork days. The two dependent variables were nurse reported quality of care (single item rating) and overall patient safety, measured by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. ResultsNurses reported an average of 414 minutes, or just less than 7 hours, of sleep before a work day and 497 minutes, or just over 8 hours, before a nonwork day. Short sleep duration was statistically significantly associated with lower ratings of quality of care (p=.002) and patient safety (p=.000). ConclusionsNurses are sleeping, on average, less than recommended amounts before work, which may be impacting their health and performance on the job. Health care managers may consider interventions to support nurses’ sleep to improve patient care. Further research is warranted.

A hard day\u2019s night: time use in shift workers

BackgroundDifferences in how shift workers accumulate physical activity (PA) while at work and in leisure time, on days when they are working at night, during the day, or on non-work days, are largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to improve understanding of physical activity patterns in two groups of shift workers, and to measure variations according to their shift schedules.MethodsThis pragmatic pilot study was conducted in two workplaces. Employees in Workplace 1 (n = 10) were required to drive for most of their shift. Workplace 2 was a manufacturing company where most of the employees’ (n = 30) occupational tasks were completed while standing. Use of time was assessed using the adult version of the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults (MARCA) administered by telephone interview. Three MARCA interviews were conducted with each participant, in order to capture a typical profile of a day-shift day, a night-shift day and a non-work day, using a two-day recall for each interview. Participants were asked to wear the activPAL3™ activity monitor, for 7 consecutive days. Paired and independent t-tests were used to compute significant differences between day-shift, night-shift and non-work days within and between workplaces.ResultsThe total number of days quantified for the MARCA data was 192 days (64 day-shift, 60 night-shift and 68 non-work days). Workplace 2 participants reported more physical activity and less sedentary behaviour on day-shift and night shift days than on non-work days. Time spent in sedentary behaviour was similar on day-shift, night-shift and non-work days in Workplace 1. Workplace 1 participants were more sedentary (p = 0.003) and engaged in more light intensity PA (p = 0.031) on day-shift and night-shift workdays, than those from Workplace 2. Sleep times were lowest on day-shift days.ConclusionAs the occupational tasks for participants in Workplace 2 involved physical activities, the findings do not support the conventional view that shift workers are more sedentary than those who only work during the day. Rather occupational tasks appear to be a more important determinant of physical activity patterns both on work and non-work days than varying shift patterns.

The effects of a workplace intervention on employees’ cortisol awakening response

ABSTRACTWork-related stressors are known to adversely affect employees’ stress physiology, including the cortisol awakening response (CAR) – or the spike in cortisol levels shortly after people wake up that aids in mobilizing energy. A flat or blunted CAR has been linked to chronic stress and burnout. This daily diary study tested the effects of a workplace intervention on employed parents’ CAR. Specifically, we tested whether the effects of the intervention on CAR were moderated by the type of days (workday versus non-work day). Data came from 94 employed parents from an information technology firm who participated in the baseline and 12-month diurnal cortisol components of the Work, Family, and Health Study, a group-randomized field experiment. The workplace intervention was designed to reduce work-family conflict (WFC) and implemented after the baseline data collection. Diurnal salivary cortisol was collected on 4 days at both baseline and 12 months. Multilevel modeling revealed that the intervention significantly increased employees’ CAR at 12 months on non-workdays, but this was not evident on workdays or for employees in the usual practice condition. The results provide evidence that the intervention was effective in enhancing employees’ biological stress physiology particularly during opportunities for recovery that are more likely to occur on non-work days.

Comparability of activity monitors used in Asian and Western-country studies for assessing free-living sedentary behaviour

This study aims to compare the outputs of the waist-worn Active style Pro HJA-350IT (ASP; used in studies with Asian populations), the waist-worn ActiGragh™GT3X+ using the normal filter (GT3X+) and the thigh-worn activPAL3 (AP) in assessing adults’ sedentary behaviour (total sedentary time, number of breaks) under free-living conditions. Fifty healthy workers wore the three monitors simultaneously during their waking hours on two days, including a work day and a non-work day. Valid data were at least 10 hours of wearing time, and the differences between monitors on the sedentary outputs using the AP as criterion measurement were analyzed by ANOVA. The number of participants who had complete valid data for work day and non-work day was 47 and 44, respectively. Total sedentary time and breaks estimated by the AP were respectively 466.5 ± 146.8 min and 64.3 ± 24.9 times on the work day and 497.7 ± 138.3 min and 44.6 ± 15.4 times on the non-work day. In total sedentary time, the ASP estimated 29.7 min (95%CI = 7.9 to 51.5) significantly shorter than the AP on the work day but showed no significant difference against the AP on the non-work day. The GT3X+ estimated 80.1 min (54.6 to 105.6) and 52.3 (26.4 to 78.2) significantly longer than the AP on the work day and the non-work day, respectively. For the number of breaks from sedentary time, on both days, the ASP and the GT3X+ estimated significantly more than the AP: 14.1 to 15.8 times (6.3 to 22.5) for the ASP and 27.7 to 28.8 times (21.8 to 34.8) for the GT3X+. Compared to the AP as the criterion, the ASP can underestimate total sedentary time and the GT3X+ can overestimate it, and more so at the lower levels of sedentary time. For breaks from sedentary time, compared to the AP, both the GT3X+ the ASP can overestimate.

Level of Sedentary Behavior and Its Associated Factors among Saudi Women Working in Office-Based Jobs in Saudi Arabia.

Research in Saudi Arabia has revealed a shocking level of insufficiently physically active adults, particularly women. The risk of sedentary behavior will likely increase as the number of women with office-based jobs increases. The aim of this study is to determine the level of sedentary behavior, and its associated factors, among Saudi women working office-based jobs in the city of Riyadh. A cross-sectional study of 420 Saudi female employees at 8 office-based worksites were measured to determine body mass index and were given a self-administered survey to evaluate their level of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Median sitting time on work days was 690 min per day (interquartile range, IQR 541–870), with nearly half accumulated during work hours, and 575 min per day (IQR 360–780) on non-work days. Predictors of work day sitting time were level of education, number of children, and working in the private sector. Number of children, whether they were single, and whether they lived in a small home were found to predict non-work day sitting time. This study identifies Saudi women in office-based jobs as a high-risk group for sedentary behavior. There is a need to promote physical activity at worksites and reduce prolonged sitting.

Association of shiftwork and immune cells among police officers from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress study

ABSTRACTShift workers suffer from a constellation of symptoms associated with disruption of circadian rhythms including sleep abnormalities, and abnormal hormone secretion (e.g. melatonin, cortisol). Recent, but limited, evidence suggests that shift workers have elevated levels of circulating white blood cells (WBCs) compared to their day working counterparts. Interestingly, recent reviews highlight the strong linkage between the immune system and circadian rhythms which includes, but is not limited to, circulating cell populations and functions. The elevated levels of these WBCs may be associated with the increased chronic disease risk observed among this group. The purpose of this analysis was to examine the cross-sectional association between long- and short-term (3, 5, 7, and 14 days) shiftwork (SW) and counts of WBCs among officers in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) cohort. Data collection for this analysis took place among 464 police officers working in Buffalo, New York, USA between 2004 and 2009. Precise SW histories were obtained using electronic payroll records. Officers were assigned a shift type based on the shift (i.e. day, evening, night) that they spent a majority (i.e. ≥50%) of their time from 1994 to the data collection date for long-term SW. The same process was applied to SW over 3, 5, 7, and 14 days prior to data collection. A fasted blood sample collected in the morning of a non-work day was used for characterization of WBCs (total), neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Potential confounding factors included demographic characteristics (e.g. age, sex, race), occupational characteristics (e.g. rank), health behaviors (e.g. smoking, alcohol consumption, diet), anthropometrics, and other biomarkers (e.g. lipids, hemoglobin A1C, leptin). Generalized linear models were used to estimate least square means of the immune cells according to SW categorization for long- and short-term SW histories. Compared to the day shift group, those working long-term night shifts had greater absolute numbers of total WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes (all p < 0.05). Those working mainly on the night shift over 7-days had elevated counts of WBCs, lymphocytes, and monocytes (p < 0.05) compared to those mainly working day shifts. Results based on 3-, 5-, and 14-day SW were similar to the 7-day results. This study corroborates other studies with similar findings. However, this analysis provided insights into the effect of both long- and short-term SW on the number of circulating WBCs. SW may lead to disruption of circadian-influenced components of the immune system, which in term, may result in various chronic diseases. These findings, plus previous findings, may provide evidence that SW may lead to immune system dysregulation. Future research is needed to understand whether increases in immune cells among shift workers may be associated with the increased disease risk among this group.

Sitting Time, Physical Activity and Sleep by Work Type and Pattern-The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

Data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health were used to examine how work was associated with time spent sleeping, sitting and in physical activity (PA), in working women. Young (31–36 years; 2009) and mid-aged (59–64 years; 2010) women reported sleep (categorised as shorter ≤6 h/day and longer ≥8 h/day) and sitting time (work, transport, television, non-work computer, and other; summed for total sitting time) on the most recent work and non-work day; and moderate and vigorous PA (categorised as meeting/not meeting guidelines) in the previous week. Participants reported occupation (manager/professional; clerical/sales; trades/transport/labourer), work hours (part-time; full-time) and work pattern (shift/night; not shift/night). The odds of shorter sleep on work days was higher in both cohorts for women who worked shift or night hours. Longer sitting time on work days, made up primarily of sitting for work, was found for managers/professionals, clerical/sales and full-time workers. In the young cohort, clerical/sales workers and in the mid-aged cohort, full-time workers were less likely to meet PA guidelines. These results suggest multiple behaviour interventions tailored to work patterns and occupational category may be useful to improve the sleep, sitting and activity of working women.

Correlates of sedentary time in different age groups: results from a large cross sectional Dutch survey.

BackgroundEvidence shows that prolonged sitting is associated with an increased risk of mortality, independent of physical activity (PA). The aim of the study was to identify correlates of sedentary time (ST) in different age groups and day types (i.e. school-/work day versus non-school-/non-work day).MethodsThe study sample consisted of 1895 Dutch children (4–11 years), 1131 adolescents (12–17 years), 8003 adults (18–64 years) and 1569 elderly (65 years and older) who enrolled in the Dutch continuous national survey ‘Injuries and Physical Activity in the Netherlands’ between 2006 and 2011. Respondents estimated the number of sitting hours during a regular school-/workday and a regular non-school/non-work day. Multiple linear regression analyses on cross-sectional data were used to identify correlates of ST.ResultsSignificant positive associations with ST were observed for: higher age (4-to-17-year-olds and elderly), male gender (adults), overweight (children), higher education (adults ≥ 30 years), urban environment (adults), chronic disease (adults ≥ 30 years), sedentary work (adults), not meeting the moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) guideline (children and adults ≥ 30 years) and not meeting the vigorous PA (VPA) guideline (4-to-17-year-olds). Correlates of ST that significantly differed between day types were working hours and meeting the VPA guideline. More working hours were associated with more ST on school-/work days. In children and adolescents, meeting the VPA guideline was associated with less ST on non-school/non-working days only.ConclusionsThis study provides new insights in the correlates of ST in different age groups and thus possibilities for interventions in these groups. Correlates of ST appear to differ between age groups and to a lesser degree between day types. This implies that interventions to reduce ST should be age specific. Longitudinal studies are needed to draw conclusions on causality of the relationship between identified correlates and ST.

Comparative well-being of horses kept under total or partial confinement prior to employment for mounted patrols

Horses kept in stables may exhibit undesirable behaviours and stress during police service. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of confinement, i.e., time in stalls, on horse behaviour and welfare employed by mounted patrols in urban areas. Eight adult horses were subjected to one of two types of confinement during 16days, namely: total confinement (TC – 24h in a stall) and partial confinement (PC – 12h in a stall and 12h free in a paddock); then the treatments were reversed. Mounted patrols were conducted in pairs, with one animal from each treatment group, for six hours every other day in a scheme of five 40-min rides interspersed with four 20-min rest periods. Animal behaviour was evaluated by applying direct coded focal observations (SA – standing alert, SC – standing calm, M – movement, EF – eating forage, DW – drinking water, V – vocalizing, SI – positive or negative social interactions, S – stereotypies, and O – others) for three time periods on non-work days, and during rest periods of the last patrol day for each experimental stage. Behaviours were assessed through a questionnaire (A – alert, C – curious, D – distracted, Dr – drowsy, SI – socially interactive, F – fearful, and N – nervous), by the military personnel during patrols. Heart rate (HR), HR variability (SDNN, VLF, LF, HF, and LF/HF), blood count, and cortisol levels were determined on the first and last non-work day and on the first, third, and seventh day of patrolling. The experiment was performed under a randomized block design, and the data were compared by Tukey’s test using SAS statistical software (P<0.05). The type of confinement influenced some behaviours observed in horses on non-work days and rest periods of last patrol day (SA, SC, M, and SI), as well as on those reported by the military personnel during patrols (C, D, F, and N). Animal HR values in the first (P=0.0478) and second (P=0.0001) rest period, and the LF (P=0.0238) and HF (P=0.0162) values at the fourth rest period during the patrols were higher in animals under TC. Average cortisol values were higher for animals under TC (at rest: 8.18ng/mL; after patrolling: 14.57ng/mL) than in those under PC (at rest: 6.31ng/mL; after patrolling: 6.46ng/mL). Therefore, turnout is a simple and effective practice that promotes the welfare of horses and positively influences their behaviour during mounted patrols.

Mental health distress and related factors among prefectural public servants seven months after the great East Japan Earthquake.

BackgroundTo develop an empirically informed support measure for workers, we examined mental health distress and its risk factors among prefectural public servants who were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and faced a demanding workload in the midterm of the disaster.MethodsWe conducted a self-administered health survey of all public servants in the Miyagi prefectural government two and seven months after the Great East Japan Earthquake (3743 workers, 70.6% of all employees). We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mental distress (defined as K6 score ≥10) in the domain of disaster-work-related stressors, work-related stressors, and disaster-related stressors.ResultsAmong those with better levels of workplace communication, the only factor that increased the risk of mental distress was not taking a non-work day each week (adjusted OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.27–5.14). Among those with poorer levels of workplace communication, in addition to not taking a non-work day each week (adjusted OR 3.93, 95% CI 3.00–5.15), handling residents’ complaints (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.00–2.42), having dead or missing family members (adjusted OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.53–5.38), and living in a shelter more than two months after the disaster (adjusted OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.32–5.95) increased the risk of mental distress.ConclusionsAll workers should be encouraged to take a non-work day each week. Among workers with poor workplace communication, special attention should be given to those who handle residents’ complaints, have lost a family member(s), and are living in a shelter for a prolonged period of time.

Associations between sitting time and quality of life in a population-based sample of kidney cancer survivors

BackgroundAdverse health effects of sedentary behaviour on cancer risk and health outcomes in cancer survivors have been reported but few studies have examined quality of life (QoL) and no study has focused on kidney cancer survivors (KCS). The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of sitting time among KCS and to determine any associations with QoL. MethodsAll 1985 KCS diagnosed between 1996 and 2010 identified through a Canadian provincial Registry were mailed a survey that consisted of the modified domain-specific sitting time questionnaire, the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire and several Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) QoL scales. Standard demographic and medical variables were also reported. ResultsCompleted surveys were received from 540 KCS. The mean hours of sitting time were 8.0 ± 4.7 for a work-day and 6.5 ± 3.8 for a non-work day. After adjustment for key covariates, analyses of covariance indicated that the only significant relationship was an unexpected positive association between sitting time on a work day and emotional well-being (p = 0.019). Moreover, the only variable to moderate these associations was age, with younger KCS under age 60 showing the expected negative associations between sitting time and physical and functional aspects of QoL. ConclusionKCS sit for a significant amount of time on work days and non-work days, however, there were few associations with QoL. Future observational studies and randomized controlled trials are warranted to examine sitting time and health outcomes among KCS.

Variations in Daily Cigarette Consumption on Work Days Compared With Nonwork Days and Associations With Quitting: Findings From the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey

We explore whether reported daily cigarette consumption differs between work days and nonwork days and whether variation in consumption between work days and nonwork days influences quitting and abstinence from smoking. We also explore whether effects are independent of measures of addiction and smoking restrictions at work and home. Data were from 5,732 respondents from the first five waves of the International Tobacco Control Four-Country Survey, occurring between 2002 and 2006. Respondents were current smokers employed outside the home. Variation in daily cigarette consumption on work days compared with nonwork days at one wave was used to predict the likelihood of making an attempt and the likelihood of maintaining a quit attempt for at least a month at the next wave. Generalized estimating equations were used to combine data for multiple waves. Just under half reported smoking more on a nonwork day, a little over a third reported no difference, and around one fifth reported smoking more on a work day. Controlling for possible confounding factors, smoking more on a work day was associated with making quit attempts. Among people who made a quit attempt, variation in consumption did not consistently predict one month's abstinence, being positive in Australia, but negative in the United Kingdom. Those who smoke more on work days try to quit more. Country differences for success may be related to the extent of bans on smoking, with those smoking more on work days more likely to succeed where bans in workplaces and public places were more prevalent, such as Australia at the time.

BMI And Steps Taken In Women With At Least One Component Of The Metabolic Syndrome

Much remains to be determined regarding the relationship between physical activity and a variety of health-related outcomes. Pedometers have been increasingly used as an objective measure of PA (steps/day) in health-related research. PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship among total steps, leisure-day (non-work day) steps, work-day steps, steps taken during work only, and body mass index (BMI) in women with one or more components of the metabolic syndrome with self-reported sedentary occupations. Additionally, inter-individual variability in steps taken at work was investigated. METHODS: Participants (n = 65; mean age = 45.7 ± 10.6 years) with a mean BMI of 32.84 ± 7.17 kg/m2 wore a pedometer over the course of four days: two complete work days and two entire days of leisure activity. Each participant reported the total number of steps taken over: all four days (TS), two leisure-days only (LDS), two complete work days (WDS), and steps taken at work only (WOS; n = 63). Pearson correlations were utilized to look at the relationships among TS, LDS, WDS, WOS and BMI. Descriptive statistics were utilized to evaluate the inter-individual variability in WOS. RESULTS: TS (mean = 6505 ± 3100 steps/day) was inversely related with BMI, r = -.40, p =.001. WDS and LDS (mean = 6214 ± 3215 and 6795 ± 3590 steps/day, respectively) were also inversely related with BMI, r = -.33, p =.007; r = -.39, p =.001, respectively. WOS (mean = 3364 ± 1889 steps/day) was not significantly related with BMI, r = -.15, p =.260. However, WOS demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with TS, r =.52, p <.001. Inter-individual variability in WOS (mean = 3364 ± 1889, min = 615, max = 9174 steps/day) was substantial. Those individuals in the 75th percentile took more than twice as many steps compared to those in the 25th percentile (4434 vs. 1978 steps, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a moderate significant correlation between body mass index and the mean number of steps taken by women with at least one component of the metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the inter-individual variability in steps taken during the work day is noteworthy; for some, the total number of steps taken at work made up a substantial contribution to overall step taken per day.

Effect of lecturing to 200 students on heart rate variability and alpha-amylase activity

The aim of this study was to examine cardiovascular [heart rate variability (HRV)] and autonomic nervous system activation (by evaluating salivary alpha-amylase activity) that occur in professors both to, and after, the delivery of a lecture to 200 students and to determine whether gender is an influencing factor upon response. Fifty-two participants (26 women and 26 men) collected eight unstimulated saliva samples on 2 days (one a working day on which the lecture was given, the other a non-work or rest day). They also completed the Trait version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess their dispositional anxiety on the rest day and the State section of the STAI 15 min before and 10 min after their lecture, repeated at the same hour on the control (rest) day. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was also recorded 15 min before the lecture. Continuous RR intervals were recorded before and after the lecture and the following HRV parameters were calculated: total spectral power (P (TOT)); the spectral power of the low frequency component (P (LF)); the high frequency component (P (HF)); and the ratio LF/HF. A reduction (P < 0.05) in the HF and HFnu component of HRV and an increase in the LH/HF ratio (P < 0.05) were observed at the end of the lecture. AA activity measured on the teaching day was significantly higher than that noted on the resting day. Lecturing resulted in a significant increase in the secretion of the stress marker alpha-amylase. Men and women did not differ in trait and state anxiety and no gender differences for HRV or AA activity were found.

Autonomic Stress Response Modes and Ambulatory Heart Rate Level and Variability

The major goals of this study were (1) to determine consistency of autonomic response modes to different laboratory stressors, and (2) to evaluate the strength of the association between autonomic response modes and ambulatory heart rate and variability. The sample consisted of 45 healthy participants. Parasympathetic (PNS) and sympathetic (SNS) reactivity to and recovery from laboratory stressors (handgrip, logical-mathematical, mirror-tracing, and rumination tasks) were estimated by high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), preejection period (PEP), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Ambulatory HR was measured for 24 h on a work and a nonwork day, counterbalanced. As BRS was less reliable compared to PEP and HF-HRV, the latter two parameters were selected for the computation of SNS/PNS patterns. Autonomic modes were consistent across tasks and more stable during the recovery periods. Moreover, recovery appeared to be sensitive to the emotionality of tasks. Reactivity and recovery patterns differed as a function of gender, with women showing higher vagal tone at baseline, higher HR reactivity to the logical task, greater BRS decrease during the rumination task, and a larger decrease in vagal tone during recovery after the rumination task. After controlling for gender and baseline HR and variability, autonomic profiles during reactivity and recovery periods captured substantially different ambulatory information. Specifically, autonomic profiles during reactivity significantly predicted ambulatory HR level during waking hours, whereas autonomic profile during recovery was linked with ambulatory HRV. Coactivation of SNS and PNS activity was associated with the highest ambulatory HR levels and variability. Findings from the laboratory were consistent with a dimensional autonomic model viewing SNS and PNS contributions to heart rate on orthogonal axes and individual stress response stereotypy. Laboratory task-related autonomic reactivity and recovery may reflect parallel differences in HR level and variability in everyday life.

Time Course of Heart Rate Variability Decline Following Particulate Matter Exposures in an Occupational Cohort

Although research suggests that particles influence cardiac autonomic response as evidenced by decreases in heart rate variability (HRV), the time course of the response remains unclear. Using a crossover panel study, we monitored 36 male boilermaker welders, occupationally exposed to metal-rich particulate matter (PM) to investigate the temporal trend of hourly HRV subsequent to PM exposure. Ambulatory electrocardiograms were collected over work (exposure) and non-work (control) periods and the mean of the standard deviations of all normal-to-normal intervals for all 5-min segments (SDNNi) was calculated hourly for up to 14-hrs post-work. The exposure-response relationship was examined with linear mixed effects regression models to account for participants monitored over multiple occasions. Models were adjusted for non-work HRV to control for diurnal fluctuations and individual predictors of HRV. The mean (SD) work PM2. 5 concentration was 1.12 (0.76) mg/m3. Hourly SDNNi was consistently lower post-work as compared to the same time period on a non-work day. HRV was inversely associated with work PM2. 5 exposures in each of the 14-hrs post-work. The hourly associations suggested an early and later phase response, with the largest regression coefficients observed 2–3 hrs (β = −6.86 (95% CI: −11.91, −1.81) msec/1 mg/m3 at 3-hrs), and then 9–13 hrs (β = −8.60 (95% CI: −17.45, 0.24) msec/1 mg/m3 at 11-hrs), after adjusting for non-work HRV, smoking status, and age. This investigation demonstrates declines in HRV for up to 14 hours following PM exposure and a multiphase cardiovascular autonomic response with immediate (2 hrs) and delayed (9–13 hrs) responses.

Prolonged Bouts Of Sedentary Time Are Associated With Percent Body-fat, Independent Of Total Sedentary Time

Sedentary behavior, particularly television viewing time, is detrimentally associated with several health outcomes, including obesity. However, studies have typically used self-reported measures of total sedentary time, without considering the impact of the duration of sedentary bouts. Animal studies suggest that longer, uninterrupted bouts of sedentary time have the most detrimental metabolic effects. PURPOSE: To determine if longer average bouts of sedentary time are associated with higher percent body-fat, independent of total sedentary time. METHODS: Sedentary time of participants (79 men, 118 women; mean age 51. 8y, SD 12.5) during waking hours on a single, non-work day (Sunday) was determined by accelerometry (Actigraph). Total sedentary time (counts/minute <100), as well as number of sedentary bouts, and mean sedentary bout time were determined. A sedentary bout was denned as the sum of minutes of <100 accelerometer counts. Percent body-fat was determined by bio-impedance analysis. RESULTS: Mean sedentary bout times (reflecting uninterrupted sedentary time) were 7.0 (SD 3.5) minutes in men, and 6.1 (2.3) minutes in women (t=2.12, p=0.035). After adjusting for age, moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity time, and total sedentary time, mean sedentary bout times were significantly associated with higher percent body-fat in women (b=1.09, 95% CI 0.16 to 2.03, p=0.02), but not men (b=0.28, −0.33 to 0.89, p=0.37). Similarly, the negative association of higher total number of sedentary bouts (reflecting more breaks in the time spent being sedentary) with percent body-fat approached significance in women (b=−0.07, −0.14 to 0.00, p=0.06), but not men (b=−0.05, −0.13 to 0.02, p=0.17). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide preliminary evidence on the potential importance for human health of avoiding prolonged periods of being sedentary, independent of physical activity. The significant associations for women, but not for men, support findings from studies of the metabolic consequences of television viewing time. The biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie these associations warrant further investigation.

Comparative Analysis of Value of Travel Time Savings between Japan and Germany

This paper compares the resource allocation with the activity diary data of Tokyo, Japan and Karlsruhe, Germany. First, we compare the time and money budget allocation between two cities. The analysis shows that the people in Tokyo prefer engaging in the out-of-home leisure on a non-work day to the people in Karlsruhe. Then, we analyze the values of travel time saving (VTTS) in private travel for leisure in the two cities. The analysis results show that the ratio of VTTS to average wage rate is two to five in Tokyo whereas the ratio is almost onein Karlsruhe. These differences may reflect the preference in leisure activities, leisure facilities and transportation facilities of the two cities.