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Overcommitment to work is associated with changes in cardiac sympathetic regulation
Tanja G M Vrijkotte1, Lorenz J P van Doornen, Eco J C de Geus
1Department of Social Medicine/Public Health and Epidemiology, Academic Medical Centre, Postbox 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.vrijkotte@amc.uva.nl
Psychosomatic Medicine
|September 24, 2004
Summary
Work stress, specifically overcommitment, is linked to altered cardiac sympathetic activity. This may increase cardiovascular disease risk by affecting heart rate regulation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Work stress is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Mechanisms may involve exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity or poor recovery from work stressors.
- The pre-ejection period (PEP) reflects cardiac sympathetic activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of work stress on 24-hour cardiac sympathetic activity profiles.
- To examine PEP variations in relation to work stress using ambulatory impedance cardiography.
Main Methods:
- Ambulatory monitoring of PEP over 2 workdays and 1 non-workday in 67 male white-collar workers.
- Work stress defined by Siegrist's model: high effort/low reward (imbalance) or high overcommitment.
- Analysis of absolute PEP levels, wake-to-sleep differences, and PEP variability (SD).
Main Results:
- High overcommitment correlated with lower absolute PEP levels across all measurement periods.
- Individuals with high overcommitment showed reduced wake-to-sleep PEP differences.
- Reduced PEP variability (SD) was observed in those with high overcommitment.
Conclusions:
- Overcommitment to work is associated with elevated basal sympathetic drive.
- A reduced dynamic range of cardiac sympathetic regulation was found in overcommitted workers.
- Findings support the hypothesis that overcommitment may lead to beta-receptor down-regulation.