Running Head: STRESS and HEALTH

STRESS AND HEALTH

Stress and Health: Relaxation Methods Affects on Heart Rate

SaraCarl, TimConklin, CraigGoodspeed, and LukeSnyder

BroomeCommunity College

STRESS AND HEALTH

Abstract

This study will explore whether certain stress coping methods reduce heart rate thereby reducing stress on the heart. An individual will be asked to perform a series of physical tasks three separate times. After the first series of physical tasks no stress coping method will be used and the individuals’ heart rate reduction will be measured. A different stress coping method will be instituted after each succeeding series of physical tasks,after each of which their heart rates will be measured again to determine average reduction. Average heart rate reduction will show which stress coping method works most effectively at reducing heart rate.

Stress and Health: Relaxation Methods Affects on Heart Rate

It is well known that stress causes many health problems. Stress is definedas physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension (Langenscheidt, 2007). Stress has been linked to contributing to many health problems, some of those health problems being heart attacks and high blood pressure. If stress is contributing to health problems such as these, then an examination into how to reduce stress warrants deeper inspection. By instituting various relaxation methods an individual’s ability to reduce stress will be increased, thereby reducing the effect of the stressors on the individual and in turn reducing health issues such as cardiovascular disease.

Brennan, Schutte, and Moos (2006) found that long-term exposure to stress without proper stress management resulted in detrimental effects. The authors did a longitudinal experiment that showed individuals that were unable to cope with stress properly developed major health problems like, depressive symptoms, and social resource deficits. This study showed that the ability of an individual to deal with stress is vital to long term physical and mental health.

Steptoe, Cropley, and Joekes (2000) found that long term exposure to demanding stressful tasks in everyday life could have detrimental effects likecardiovascular stress reactivity, which is believed to have a direct connection with cardiovascular disease.

In a study done in 2007 by Villani, Riva, and Riva the question of reducing stress by use of virtual reality therapy was examined. The authors of this study decided to test the new relaxation method of virtual reality therapy by comparing results with a proven form of stress reduction therapy, namely, autogenic therapy. This study showed that pre-existing relaxation methods, like autogenic therapy, work on reducing stress and that with further research, virtual reality therapy could become another way of coping with stress.

Goldman and Schwartz (1976) used meditation as a relaxation method to reduce stress reactions. The study found that meditation, when used as a relaxation method, can impact the effects of stress. All individuals involved with the study reported that they felt more secure when dealing with stressful situations, and testing showed that all individuals’ heart rates were positively affected by the use of meditation when dealing with stressful situations.

Gatchel, Hatch, Watson, Smith, and Gaas (1977) reported that the use of muscular relaxation and biofeedback training can assist with controlling the quantity of stress put on an individuals’ heart. They found that individuals who instituted these methods when dealing with stressful situations and physical activity had the ability to reduce their heart rates.

In a longitudinal field experiment done by Burning and Frew in 1987 it was found that by instituting various stress intervention programs an individual could effectively reduce the negative effects related with stress. The study concluded that the institution of three various stress intervention programs, management skills training, exercise and meditation, were all shown to have positive affects on stress.

Johnston, Tuomisto, and Patching (2008) found that there is a direct connection between stress, cardiovascular reactivity, and cardiovascular disease over a prolonged period of time. Their study showed that the more heart rate activity an individual has,the more likely the individual is to develop arterial diseases.

The information provided abovedemonstrates the link between increased heart rate and stress. Stress causes increased heart rate which in turn puts stress on the heart. The ability to reduce the quantity of stress put on the heart by reducing heart rate is very important. We hypothesize the following:

The institution of muscular relaxation therapy will effectively reduce an individuals’ heart rate.
The institution of autogenic therapy will effectively reduce an individuals’ heart rate.
Muscular relaxation therapy will have more of an effect on reducing an individuals’ heart rate than autogenic therapy.

Method

Participants

We will study one male individual. This individual is 5 feet 10 inches tall weighs approximately 210 pounds and is 29 years of age. The individual is physically active and considered to be overweight for his height and age group.

Materials and Apparatus

In order to complete this study we will utilize the Biopac MP40 device which has a built in ECG machine which checks heart rate. The other items that will be used in this experiment are a standard classroom chair, a long heavy desk, stair stepper,a set of 5-pound weights, a compact disc player, a set of head phones, and twocompact discs. The first compact disc, A Peaceful Soak (Nascimento, 2005), will be used for the autogenic therapy portion of the experiment. The other compact disc is based on the book “Progressive Relaxation: A Physiological & Clinical Investigation of Muscular States & Their Significance in Psychology & Medical Practice”, by EdmundJacobson (1974) will be used for the muscular relaxation portion.

Procedure

Before the individual participates in our research project we will fully explain the research that is being done and get permission from the individual for their participation in our project. Initially we will test the participants’ standing heart rate,and thenwe will have the participant perform various physical tasks. First, the participant will be required to lift the classroom chair 10 times, second, the participant will have to step up and down on the stair stepper while holding the set of 5-pound weights for two minutes, and last we will have the participant lift the desk three times. We will then check the participants’ heart rate for three minutes to check for average reduction. This procedure will be done two more times totaling three times all together. After the second time the procedure is done we will institute autogenic therapy as a stress coping activity and again take the participants’ heart rate for three minutes to check for average reduction. Finally after the third time, we will institute muscular relaxation and again take the participants’ heart rate to check for average reduction.

Method of Analysis

After performing all the various tests and collecting all the average heart rates from each of those tests we will compare the average heart ratereduction to check which stress coping method most effectively reduced the participants’ heart rate. This average heart rate reduction should show that both muscular relaxation therapy and autogenic therapy effectively reduce heart rate. From this we should be able to determine which relaxation method reduces heart rate most effectively.

References

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Gatchel, R.J., Hatch, J.P., Watson, P.J., Smith, D., & Gaas, E. (1977). Comparative

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Goldman, D. J., & Schwartz, G.E. (1976). Meditation as an intervention in stress reactivity.

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Jacobson, E. (1974). Progressive relaxation: A physiological & clinical investigation of

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Johnston, D. W., Tuomisto, M.T., & Patching, G.R. (2008). The relationship between cardiac

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Langenscheidt. (Ed.). (2007). Merriam-Webstersmedical dictionary.Maspeth, N.Y.: Insight Guide.

Nascimento, G. (2005). A Peaceful Soak [CD]. DonMills, ON-Canada: Somerset

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