Acute Physical Exercise Reduces Mental Stress-Induced Responses in Teachers

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Obesity and high blood pressure are prevalent among teachers.
• Mental stress can significantly impact cardiovascular reactivity.
• The influence of physical activity on stress response in this demographic is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between obesity markers and cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress (Stroop Color Word Test - SCWT) in teachers.
• To determine if acute aerobic physical exercise (PE) modulates this cardiovascular reactivity.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-one teachers underwent SCWT at baseline and 30 minutes after a 30-minute aerobic PE session.
• Cardiovascular reactivity, specifically blood pressure (BP) changes (Δ), was measured during SCWT.
• Obesity markers and physical activity levels were assessed.

Main Results:

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity to SCWT showed a negative correlation with obesity markers (Rho = -0.36 to -0.60, p < 0.05).
• Both SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increased during SCWT under both baseline and post-PE conditions (p < 0.01).
• Acute PE resulted in lower SBP overall (p < 0.01) and lower DBP at 2 and 4 minutes post-test (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• SBP reactivity to mental stress is inversely related to obesity markers in teachers.
• Acute moderate-intensity aerobic PE effectively reduces blood pressure reactivity to mental stress in this occupational group.