Subjective Stress Levels Research Articles

Comparative evaluation of dose dependent efficacy of vitamin C, in relation to oxidative stress level in subjects with Oral Submucus Fibrosis

Background Oral submucus fibrosis (OSMF) has a 0.2-0.5 prevalence rate in India. The malignancy rate of OSMF was found to be 7.6%. The focus of pathogenesis is currently on reactive oxygen species levels which can rise to extremely high levels, exceeding the human body’s antioxidant defense system and causing oxidative stress that goes beyond physiological limitations. Since oxidative stress plays such a significant part in carcinogenesis and other degenerative diseases, it is fair to believe that antioxidants will help to reduce or even stop these processes. Vitamin C is known for its antioxidant properties which act as a lipid-soluble free radical scavenger in cell membranes. But in some of studies a paradoxical effect of antioxidant doses was found. Thus, the present study will be conducted to evaluate the dose dependent efficacy of Vitamin C level in relation to oxidative stress level in subjects of OSMF. Methods After informed consent, the patient’s examination will be conducted. For each individual, 5ml of the blood sample will be withdrawn under all the aseptic precautions and oxidative stress level will be assessed depending on MDA & SOD level in a central research laboratory. Depending on oxidative stress level patients will be divided into two groups. Group I - Moderate oxidative stress in OSMF SI less than 240 but more than 192 Group II - High Oxidative Stress in OSMF SI more than 240 Single and double doses of Vitamin C will be given to patients accordingly and the MDA & SOD levels will be calculated on day 30,90 days and on 180th day Conclusions Positive results of the study will give direction for choosing the correct dose of the antioxidant Vitamin C for OSMF depending on oxidative stress level.

How is music listening purpose related to stress recovery? - two preliminary studies in men and women.

Studies have suggested that listening to music can reduce psychological and biological responses to a stressor. However, it is unclear whether music has the same effect on stress recovery. According to field studies, people commonly use music in daily life for the specific purpose of relaxation. We explored whether individuals who generally use music for relaxation purposes show improved recovery from an acute stressor. In two independent studies, twenty-seven healthy female participants (Mage = 24.07) (Study 1) and twenty-one healthy male participants (Mage = 23.52) (Study 2) were separated into two groups based on their frequency of using music for relaxation purposes (low vs. high). All participants underwent a lab-based psychosocial stress test. Subjective stress levels were measured using visual analogue scales. Salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase were measured to assess endocrine and autonomic stress responses, respectively. Subjective stress levels and saliva samples were measured nine times throughout the stress induction and recovery procedure. Chronic stress levels were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale and the Screening Scale of Chronic Stress. No significant differences were observed in subjective stress levels, salivary alpha-amylase activity, or cortisol concentration between the two groups in either of the two studies. Further analyses revealed that among male participants, increased use of music for relaxation purposes was related to more chronic stress levels (t (10.46) = 2.45, p = 0.03, r = 0.60), whereas female participants exhibited a trend in the opposite direction (t (13.94) = -1.92, p = 0.07, r = 0.46). Contrary to our expectations, the results indicate that habitual music listening for relaxation purposes is not associated with improved recovery from a stressor. However, due to the small sample size, future exploration is necessary to enhance the statistical power of the results of the study.

43 Far from Home: The Impact of Geographic Distance from Tertiary Paediatric Hospitals on Family Expenses and Experiences

Abstract Background Many individuals living in rural and remote communities are required to travel to urban centres to receive essential health care. These experiences may be especially complex for children and their families. Despite this, there is a lack of available literature on the experiences of children and families travelling to receive care at tertiary paediatric hospitals in Canada, specifically regarding associated costs and psychosocial impacts. 1.Objectives: Analyze tertiary hospital-based administrative data to quantify the number of admissions and length-of-stay for families living > 50 km from the hospital. 2.Describe the costs and psychosocial impacts of hospitalization on families living > 50 km from the hospital. Design/Methods Ethics approval was obtained. Family partners were involved in all aspects of the study design. We obtained a de-identified data set describing the length of stay and home community of paediatric patients admitted to our paediatrics unit. Descriptive statistics were produced to determine the relevant study population and inform subsequent data analyses. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to interested caregivers admitted to our paediatrics team. Participants were offered a $20 gift card as remuneration. The survey included optional questions to assess participant demographics, costs associated with hospitalization, and subjective stress levels. Descriptive statistics were reported. Results Administrative data analysis described 2,758 admissions to a paediatric tertiary hospital from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Patients from rural and remote communities were 9.54% of total admissions. Regression models found a strong statistical relationship between length of stay and distance from the tertiary centre (Pearson chi2 coefficient 58.9, p < 0.001). A total of 39 caregivers filled out the cross-sectional survey. 75% (n=29) of participants were from local communities and 25% (n=10) were from rural and remote communities. 82% (n=32) of hospital stays were unplanned. 54% (n=21) of participants paid out-of-pocket transportation costs and 13% (n=5) paid out-of-pocket accommodation costs. 82% (n=32) of participants had co-travellers. 20% (n=8) of participants reported difficulty paying for hospital-associated costs and 10% (n=4) had to borrow money to do so. Conclusion To our knowledge, this study is the first to look at the psychological and socioeconomic barriers facing families travelling to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Canada. Patients from outside the local area had increased odds of longer length of stay and participants described a variety of stressors associated with hospitalization. We hope to translate this data into evidence-based interventions to better support these families.

Indicators of surgical stress and influence of clinical experience, simulation models, and cadaveric laboratory on the stress response of third-year veterinary students performing first elective surgery.

To evaluate the role of simulation models and previous surgical experience on subjective and objective stress levels of students performing their 1st elective surgery within the veterinary curriculum. 141 third-year veterinary students. Using a pre-post experimental design, salivary alpha-amylase, and cortisol were evaluated as markers of physiologic stress response before students' first elective surgery. Student self-reported State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores and quantitative measures of experience were correlated to biomarker results. No association was found for change in salivary biomarkers of stress, alpha-amylase, and cortisol, between baseline and presurgical samples accounting for gender, age, type of elective surgery performed, previous surgical experience, or simulation model use. Salivary cortisol levels were markedly elevated falling between the 66th and 99th percentile compared to an age and gender-matched population. Salivary alpha-amylase levels were also 2 to 3 times higher than those recorded by other health professionals. Veterinary student STAI scores were high falling between the 65th and 73rd percentile compared to working adults in the general population. Veterinary students' salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and STAI scores fell into the upper 2/3rds of the general population, demonstrating a high level of stress. Simulation models and previous surgical experience were not associated with decreased stress. Further evaluation of the implementation of high-fidelity simulation models and the role of stress on performance is indicated.

Stress at work on drilling rigs in Poland in a 20-year research perspective: time as a determinant of the stress-at-work dynamics.

Adapting to stress over time is a process involving various cognitive and emotional assessments; it also depends on the objective situation related to working conditions, as well as on individual factors. The aim of this paper is to outline the dynamic nature of stress experienced by workers employed on oil rigs over a period of 20 years. The presented research is part of a larger project and concerns subjective stress. Longitudinal studies included the analysis of data regarding the period of 1993-2014. They concerned 167 Polish oil rig workers, all men; the average age at the beginning of the study was 29 years. Each employee was surveyed at least 4 times over a period of 20 years at intervals of 4-6 years in the workplace. The subjective level of stress at work (based on the Subjective Job Evaluation Questionnaire) and the level of declared stress (based on the Stress Survey) were examined. Oil rig workers show different adaptations to stress over a long term, depending on their subjective perception of stress. Baseline stress levels can vary from person to person over the years. The first group was characterized by high initial stress, but the stress decreased systematically over 20 years ("stress resisting"). Employees from the second group were characterized by low initial stress, but declared a systematic increase in stress in the same period ("stress sensitizing"). Finally, employees from the third group adapted to stress in a flexible way, with subjective stress being most strongly associated with objective stress ("flexible group"). The presented prospective study showed differences between the subjective levels of stress depending on the distinguished groups over 20 years, i.e., between-group and intra-group variability. The method of prospective research shows that the perception of stress at work is a dynamic process and it changes over time. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):477-92.

Repressive and vigilant coping styles in stress and relaxation: evidence for physiological and subjective differences at baseline, but not for differential stress or relaxation responses.

Previous research suggested differential stress reactivity depending on individuals' coping style, e.g., as classified by the model of coping modes. Specifically, stronger physiological reactivity and weaker subjective stress ratings were found for repressors than for sensitizers. However, it remains to be investigated (i) whether these findings, which are largely based on social stress induction protocols, also generalize to other stressors, (ii) whether repressors vs. sensitizers also exhibit differential stress recovery following the application of a relaxation method, and (iii) which stress reactivity and recovery patterns are seen for the two remaining coping styles, i.e., fluctuating, and non-defensive copers. The current study thus examines stress reactivity in physiology and subjective ratings to a non-social stressor and the subsequent ability to relax for the four coping groups of repressors, sensitizers, fluctuating, and non-defensive copers. A total of 96 healthy participants took part in a stress induction (Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test) and a subsequent relaxation intervention. Subjective ratings of stress and relaxation, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure were assessed during the experiment. HR and blood pressure are markers of the sympathetic stress response that can be regulated by relaxation, while HRV should increase with relaxation. To investigate long-term relaxation effects, subjective ratings were also assessed on the evening of testing. Despite successful stress induction, no differential responses (baseline to stress, stress to relaxation) were observed between the different coping groups on any of the measures. In contrast, a strong baseline effect was observed that persisted throughout the experiment: In general, fluctuating copers showed lower HR and higher HRV than non-defensive copers, whereas repressors reported lower subjective stress levels and higher levels of relaxation during all study phases. No differences in subjective ratings were observed in the evening of testing. Contrary to previous research, no differential stress reactivity pattern was observed between coping groups, which could be due to the non-social type of stressor employed in this study. The novel finding of physiological baseline differences between fluctuating and non-defensive individuals is of interest and should be further investigated in other stressor types in future research.

The Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application for Tinnitus Relief.

There has been a growing interest in the provision of smartphone- or internet-based tinnitus management. Studies have shown a positive impact of the smartphone applications on tinnitus symptoms. However, research into a relatively long-term effect of these applications on tinnitus relief as well as sound preferences has been sparse. This study explored the potential benefit of a tinnitus application in tinnitus relief over a period of six months. Twenty-two participants with subjective tinnitus were enrolled in the study. Puretone audiometry, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching, stress assessment, and questionnaires were completed at the initial visit and three and six months after the first visit. The participants used the tinnitus application for six months. A significant reduction in subjective tinnitus loudness and annoyance and subjective stress level was observed. The Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores were also significantly decreased after six months. The participants also reported high satisfaction with the application. Music and environmental sounds were the most preferred sound stimuli. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential benefit of the tinnitus application for tinnitus improvement.

Effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on stress-reactive neuroendocrine measures in a sample of persons with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Dysregulation of stress-reactive neuroendocrine measures, as well as subjective stress, have been found to worsen epilepsy. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a relatively new treatment option for epilepsy. We were interested in its effect on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS) as well as subjective stress and tiredness in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Twenty patients (age 44 ± 11 years, 13 women) were enrolled in the study. They were free of seizures for more than 1 year. All took part in two sessions with 4 h of stimulation (tVNS vs. sham) in a randomized order. Saliva samples and subjective stress and tiredness levels were measured at five time points each session (before and after stimulation and three time points every hour in between). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance as well as paired t-tests. There was a dampened salivary cortisol (sCort) decrease during tVNS (time × condition effect: F[2.38, 38.15] = 6.50, P = 0.002, partial η2 = 0.29). Furthermore, we detected a dampened increase in salivary flow rate during tVNS (time × condition effect: F[3.28, 55.67] = 2.82, P = 0.043, partial η2 = 0.14). There was neither a difference in overall sCort or salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels nor in subjective stress or tiredness levels between conditions. sAA levels at the last measurement point were slightly higher during tVNS (t(19) = 2.26, P = 0.035, d = 0.51), but this effect failed to reach significance when controlled for multiple comparisons. Our results partially support that tVNS influences the regulation of stress-reactive neuroendocrine systems (namely the HPA axis and ANS) in epilepsy. More research with larger samples is needed on the difference between short-term and repeated long-term stimulation.

Современные исследования нейрональных основ принятия моральных решений

<p style="text-align: justify;">The article is devoted to a review of modern research on the neuronal foundations of moral decision-making. Psychological approaches to the study of the problem of decision-making and moral choice are analyzed. The data of empirical studies of their temperamental and characterological correlates are presented. The results of neurobiological and neurophysiological studies of worldview and moral assessments, taking into account age and cross-cultural factors, are discussed. Empirical studies of the neurophysiological foundations of decision-making in persons with mental disorders are highlighted. It is concluded that different moral tasks can involve different neural mechanisms. The significance of the results of the detected activity of the brain departments for understanding the neurophysiological and psychophysiological correlates of moral decision-making, and allowing the transition to understanding higher, conscious regulators of behavior, is substantiated. The prospects of comparing the dynamics of the activity of brain structures with the personal profile and the level of subjective stress of a person for the development of prognostic and diagnostic methods for assessing behavior in life-threatening situations are indicated.</p>

ADHD Symptoms Increase Perception of Classroom Entropy and Impact Teacher Stress Levels.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder among school-age children, characterized by persistent behavioral patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. These behaviors can create stress for teachers and negatively affect teacher-student interactions. This study hypothesized that a high frequency of ADHD students in the classroom can increase internal and external entropy, ultimately resulting in a negative stress impact on teachers. The physical concept of entropy, which measures the degree of disorder in a system, was used to better understand this relationship. The study evaluated 177 primary school teachers in their response to interacting with students with ADHD, using the Measurement of Psychological Stress (MPS) to evaluate subjective stress levels and the QUEIs and QUEIp questionnaires to measure structural and personal entropy. Path analysis was applied to identify the factors associated with the total score of MPS. The hypothesis was confirmed, as the frequency of ADHD students had a negative impact on teachers' entropy levels and personal entropy was found to significantly increase stress levels. The study highlights the negative impact of ADHD symptoms on stress levels and personal entropy of teachers when interacting with students with ADHD. These findings suggest the need for interventions aimed at balancing the frequency of students with ADHD and promoting positive training on stress reduction for teacher-student interactions.

Factors associated with conflict and styles of conflict management among health professionals

<p><strong>Introduction.</strong> Conflict is a process during which one person consciously and intentionally makes an effort to prevent the other person’s efforts, some kind of blockade that will lead to interruption in achieving the goals and interests of the other person. Conflicts in the healthcare team are common and can lead to reduced productivity in the work of healthcare professionals, which can have a negative impact on the care and treatment of patients. <strong>Methods. </strong>This cross-sectional study involved 100 health professionals, nurses and doctors employed in the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care. The research was conducted from March to August 2020. A questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, a questionnaire on conflicts of health professionals, and a standardized scale of depression, anxiety and stress with 21 questions (DASS-21) were used to measure the level of subjective depression, anxiety and stress <strong>Results.</strong> Seventy-four health workers (74%) had experience of conflict in the workplace, doctors (95%) significantly more often than nurses (58%) (p=0.001). Forty percent of health workers stated that communication problems were the most common cause of conflict. Seventy-nine respondents (79%) chose cooperation and compromise as a style in conflict resolution. Doctors chose cooperation more often (84%) than nurses (74%) and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.048). Subjects who had experience of conflict had significantly higher average values of anxiety (8.01±2.12) (p=0.026) and stress (10.32±2.91) (p=0.008) compared to subjects who had no experience of conflict (6.13±1.91; 6.12±2.03). <strong>Conclusion.</strong> Doctors were significantly more likely to have conflict situations in the workplace. For conflict resolution doctors were more likely to choose a style of cooperation and compromise than nurses who were more likely to choose a style of conflict avoidance.</p>

Implementation of the Dexter Robot System in Daily Practice - First Experiences in Gall Bladder and Hernia Surgery

Abstract Background The use of surgical robots is increasing in the field of visceral surgery. Recently, new robotic platforms have entered the market. Dexter Robotic System is a computer-assisted surgical device with two working arms and one camera arm. Aims The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation this innovative robotic system in general visceral surgery. Methods This prospective study investigated the efficiency in elective cholecystectomy and inguinal hernia surgery of the Dexter robot. The Primary endpoints was safety, defined by device related adverse events. Secondary endpoints were performance of the Robotic System (defined as completion of the robotic procedure), operative parameters and surgeons’ comfort. Patients were consented for participation and the study was approved by the Ethical committee. Results The first 25 consecutive Dexter robotic assisted elective procedures (14 hernia, 11 cholecystectomies) were included. No device related adverse events occurred. 24 operations could be completed robotically. One hernia procedure was converted to a laparoscopic operation, due to a software failure of the Dexter-system. The median robot usage time were 55 minutes (IQR 41-5-79.5) for cholecystectomy and 95 minutes (IQR 90.5-115.25) in hernia, while the operating time amounted 99 minutes (IQR 84-133) in cholecystectomy and 131 minutes (IQR 124.75-153.75) in hernia. The median docking time of the Dexter robot was 7 minutes (IQR 7-10.5). Operators perceived comfort as high, median 4 (IQR 4-10.5, Discomfort Score range 4-16) and subjective stress levels as low, median 25 (IQR 10-35, Mental Effort Questionnaire range 10-60). (This study is ongoing, we expect to include 50 cases until June 2023). Conclusions This world's first clinical study of the Dexter Robotic System in general visceral surgery demonstrates a safe and efficient implementation of this innovative robotic system in clinical practice. Further studies will refine the effective applications of the Dexter Robotic System and its advantages over conventional surgical techniques.

The weight of caring for your elderly – a cross-sectional analysis of non-professional caregivers for people living with dementia in Romania.

IntroductionWhile a growing corpus of literature regarding the stress suffered by caretakers for people living with dementia (PLWD) already exists, very little data is available regarding this subject among Romanian caretakers.ObjectivesThis cross-sectional study aims to compensate for this by assessing a small (N=72) sample of caretakers through the use of self-reporting questionnaires for subjective feelings of stress and burden.MethodsResponders filled and online survey containing miscellaneous socio-demographic questions and the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS) along with the Caregiver Health Assessment Self Questionnaire (CHASQ). Results were collected and analysed in SPSS for subsequent correlations.ResultsThe majority (77%) of caretakers are women and 86% of responders are offering their care at home, emphasizing pervasive gender roles and lack of availability or accessibility of social services for the PLWD in Romanian society. Three thirds of caregivers were children of PLDW. More than half of responders (51%) had KCSS scores that suggested severe stress while less than 9% related only mild stress. Most responders (52%) related social aspects of their lives as most affected by their caregiver status.ConclusionsWhile in line with most other findings and limited in scope and means by its methodology, this study offers a quick snapshot on the subjective levels of stress affecting caretakers of Romanian PLWD and can lead towards further points of inquiry on the matter in the Romanian population.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Does stress consistently favor habits over goal-directed behaviors? Data from two preregistered exact replication studies

Instrumental learning is controlled by two distinct parallel systems: goal-directed (action-outcome) and habitual (stimulus-response) processes. Seminal research by Schwabe and Wolf (2009, 2010) has demonstrated that stress renders behavior more habitual by decreasing goal-directed control. More recent studies yielded equivocal evidence for a stress-induced shift towards habitual responding, yet these studies used different paradigms to evaluate instrumental learning or used different stressors. Here, we performed exact replications of the original studies by exposing participants to an acute stressor either before (cf. Schwabe and Wolf, 2009) or directly after (cf. Schwabe and Wolf, 2010) an instrumental learning phase in which they had learned that distinct actions led to distinct, rewarding food outcomes (i.e., instrumental learning). Then, following an outcome devaluation phase in which one of the food outcomes was consumed until participants were satiated, action-outcome associations were tested in extinction. Despite successful instrumental learning and outcome devaluation and increased subjective and physiological stress levels following stress exposure, the stress and no-stress groups in both replication studies responded indifferently to valued and devalued outcomes. That is, non-stressed participants failed to demonstrate goal-directed behavioral control, thereby rendering the critical test of a shift from goal-directed to habitual control in the stress group inapt. Several reasons for these replication failures are discussed, including the rather indiscriminate devaluation of outcomes that may have contributed to indifferent responding during extinction, which emphasize the need to further our understanding of the boundary conditions in research aimed at demonstrating a stress-induced shift towards habitual control.

Work stressors and their controllability: Content analysis of employee perceptions of hindrances to the flow of work in the health care sector

High levels of work stress are prevalent today, and the underlying working conditions need to be tackled urgently. In this study, our aim was to identify the range of factors that employees themselves perceive as hindrances to the flow of work, that is, hindrance stressors. We analysed the open-ended questionnaire responses of 4766 employees working in the health care sector using semi-automated content analysis. We then used more detailed conventional content analysis to compare the responses of the groups that reported high (n = 1388) and low (n = 833) levels of subjective stress. Finally, we interpreted and categorised the stressors raised by the respondents from the viewpoint of controllability, to shed light on where to target interventions. The main hindrance stressors reflected inadequate staffing, work overload, time pressure, and management-related issues, of which the responses revealed concrete examples. Interruptions and problems related to cooperation and instructions were also commonly mentioned. The respondents in the high stress group emphasised work overload and issues related to management and clients. Our results suggest that the major hindrances to daily work are beyond employees’ control and require decisions and resources at the level of supervisors, managers, directors, and policymakers. Future studies on work stress should explore the controllability of common stressors in more detail and include the appraisal of controllability in explanatory models. Avoiding overemphasis of psychological coping and instead targeting harmful working conditions and the organisational actors who can influence these could make workplace stress management interventions more effective.

Influence of COVID-19 on stress at work during the first wave of the pandemic among emergency health care workers.

For more than 2 years, COVID-19 has forced worldwide healthcare systems to adapt their daily practice. These adaptations add to the already stressful demands of providing timely medical care in an overcrowded healthcare system. Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic added stress to an already overwhelmed emergency and critical care health care workers (HCWs) on the frontlines during the first wave of the pandemic. This study assessed comparative subjective and objective stress among frontline HCWs using a visual analog scale and biometric data, specifically heart rate variability (HRV). Setting and Participants: This is a prospective, observational study using surveys and heart rate monitoring among HCWs who work in three frontline healthcare units (emergency department, mobile intensive care unit, and intensive care unit) in the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Two sessions were performed: one during the first wave of the pandemic (April 10 to May 10, 2020) and one after the first wave of the pandemic (June 10 to July 15, 2020).Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome is the difference in stress levels between the two time points. Secondary objectives were the impact of overcrowding, sociodemographics, and other variables on stress levels. We also assessed the correlation between subjective and objective stress levels. Among 199 HCWs, 98 participated in biometric monitoring, 84 had biometric and survey data, and 12 with only biometric data. Subjective stress was higher during the second time point compared to the first (4.39±2.11 vs. 3.16±2.34 p=0,23). There were higher objective stress levels with a decrease in HRV between the first and the second time points. Furthermore, we found higher patient volumes as a source of stress during the second time point. We did not find any significant correlation between subjective and objective stress levels. HCWs had higher stress levels between the two waves of the pandemic. Overcrowding in the emergency department is associated with higher stress levels. We did not find any correlation between subjective and objective stress among intensive care and emergency HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic.

Physiological Effects of Using Citrus Mint Flavored Mouthwash

This study aimed to investigate the effect of flavored mouthwash on peripheral and cardiac autonomic nervous system activity. In a within-subject experimental design, 10 male and 10 female healthy adults went through two types of mouthwashes, one was with citrus mint flavor and another was with spice mint flavor, right after performing a 20-minute calculation task given as a cognitive stressor. Along with subjective evaluation, skin conductance and electrocardiogram was recorded throughout the experiment. Although there was no difference in the subjective stress levels between the two conditions, the level of skin conductance decreased more remarkably and significantly during the recovery period when the participants used citrus mint mouthwash. The findings suggest that a particular flavored mouthwash may provide physiological effect on user regardless of its subjective sensation and the citrus mint type mouthwash might be better suited for use in need of a relaxation.

Differences between Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Day Shift Workers and Rotating Night Shift Workers in Japan

PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the differences between stress levels in day shift workers and night shift workers by measurements of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and by using self-administered questionnaires. 
 
 METHODS: HCC was measured by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The subjective stress level was evaluated by a brief job stress questionnaire, stress response scale-18 (SRS-18), and visual analog scale (VAS).
 
 RESULTS: Mean (± standard deviation: SD) HCC in the 16 subjects was 17.28 ± 7.39 pg/mg. There was no significant difference between HCCs in day shift workers (17.98 ± 3.03 pg/mg) and rotating night shift workers (16.37 ± 1.86 pg/mg). There were also no significant differences in SRS-18 scores, job-related stress scale scores, and VAS scores between day shift workers and rotating night shift workers. There was a significant difference in HCC between the group in which the stress condition was weak or normal and the group in which the stress condition was slightly strong or definitely strong according to the SRS-18 level (p = 0.030). 
 
 CONCLUSIONS: Day shift workers and rotating night shift workers have similar HCCs and similar degrees of job-related stress. In rotating shift workers who feel strong stress, acquirement of resilience due to stress coping for medium- to long-term stress may be involved in low HCC.

Factors Related to Changes of Daily Life during COVID-19

Objectives: This study analyzed and identified factors related to the changes of the daily life, such as the health behavior, the number of meetings, and the use of public transportation during the COVID-19. Methods: A total of 133,707 people out of 229,269 adults aged 19 years or older in Community Health Survey 2020 were analyzed in terms of the daily life changes, including the demographic characteristics, health status, health behavior, mental health, and chronic disease. The multi-variable linear regression analysis was conducted with the considerable variables extracted from the stepwise selection. Results: It was found that age, sex, household type, job, household income, education level, subjective health status, breakfast, stress level, depression, hypertension, and diabetes are related to the changes of the daily life during the COVID-19. In particular, the age of 30s and 40s, women, second generation, white-collar worker, high income, well educated, worse subjective health status, skipping breakfast, high stress and depression factors were closely related to the negative changes of daily life during the COVID-19. Conclusions: The negative changes of daily life during the COVID-19 were more likely to occur in the group of the age of 30s and 40s, women, with high socioeconomic status, with worse health status, with worse health behaviors and with worse mental health.

Electrophysiological correlates of mindfulness in patients with major depressive disorder.

ObjectivesMindfulness-based interventions (MBI) can reduce both stress and depressive symptoms. However, the impact of mindfulness on stress level in depressed subjects remains unclear. This study aims to assess electrophysiological correlates of mindfulness in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) at baseline, under stress exposure, and in relaxation following stress exposure.MethodsPerceived mindfulness was assessed with the Freiburger Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) in 89 inpatients (mean age 51) with MDD [mean Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) 30]. Electrophysiological parameters [resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), respiration rate, skin conductance, and skin temperature] were recorded at 5-min baseline, 1-min stress exposure, and 5-min self-induced relaxation.ResultsFreiburger Mindfulness Inventory was strongly inversely correlated with symptom severity measured by BDI (r = –0.53, p < 0.001). No correlations between FM score and electrophysiological parameters in any of the three conditions (baseline, stress exposure, relaxed state) could be found. The factor openness was associated with higher VLF (very low frequency of HRV) in the baseline condition. However, this correlation was no more significant after regression analysis when corrected for respiratory rate, age, and sex.ConclusionAutonomous nervous reactivity in depression was not associated with perceived mindfulness as measured by FMI score and presented electrophysiological parameters, despite the strong inverse correlation between state mindfulness and symptom severity.