Heart Rate vs Stress Indicator for Short Term Mental Stress

Abstract

Heart rate variation (HR) being identified as depending on subjects’ stress state when submitted to short term mental stress, this study aimed at analyzing whether or not it could be possible to find a mathematical relationship between the average heart rate variation and the intensity S of a stress indicator in case of short term mental stress, whatever the stress indicator is. The method consisted in working the hypothesis by gathering data providing HR and ratio of frequency power of HRV (Heart Rate Variability) for different level of stress, HRV being considered as a stress indicator and presenting the advantage of being widely used in studies, therefore providing numerous data in the literature. From this data, a mathematical model was designed and then assessed by testing its reliability when applied to HR variation versus different types of stress indicators (EMG, GSR, Work Load, questionnaires such as STAI-S, ALES). The correlation obtained between the model and the data provided by the literature (24 points from 8 studies gathering 272 subjects) gave r=.95 (p<.0001) which allowed us to validate the model. Limits of the model were identified and discussed.