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Positive emotion inducement modulates cardiovascular responses caused by mental work
Xinxin Liu1, Kazuma Ishimatsu2, Midori Sotoyama3
1National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-8585, Japan. liu@h.jniosh.johas.go.jp.
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
|November 18, 2016
Summary
Inducing positive emotion before mental work helps manage cardiovascular responses in workers. This approach shows potential for improving cardiovascular health and stress management.
Area of Science:
- Psychophysiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Positive emotion influences health-related biological processes, including cardiovascular activity.
- White-collar workers face mental work-induced cardiovascular stress.
- Investigating positive emotion as a management tool for cardiovascular response is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of positive emotion inducement on cardiovascular responses before a mental task.
- To assess the potential of positive emotion as an intervention for managing cardiovascular load in occupational settings.
Main Methods:
- Seventeen healthy males underwent a 10-minute Stroop color word task.
- Positive emotion was induced using pleasant images; a control group viewed a gray screen.
- Continuous measurement of cardiovascular parameters including blood pressure and heart rate was performed.
Main Results:
- Lower blood pressure and total peripheral resistance were observed during positive emotion inducement compared to the control.
- No significant differences in cardiovascular indices were found during the mental task itself.
- Post-task relaxation showed sustained lower blood pressure and total peripheral resistance under the positive emotion condition.
Conclusions:
- Positive emotion inducement before mental work beneficially modulates cardiovascular responses.
- This suggests positive emotion can be a practical tool for managing cardiovascular responses to occupational stress.
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