Effects of outdoor recreational physical challenges on general self-efficacy: A randomized controlled trial.

Outdoor programs involving recreational physical challenges are becoming increasingly popular for training and development purposes among adults, but rigorous studies investigating their effectiveness remain scarce. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of an outdoor adventure-based program on measures of self-efficacy, resilience, risk-taking propensity, and perceived stress. Participants were randomly assigned either to an intervention condition (half-day high ropes course) or a wait-list control group.

Cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress is associated with generalized self-efficacy and self-efficacy outcomes during adventure challenges.

Outdoor adventure challenges are commonly used to enhance self-efficacy, but the physiological mechanisms involved remain unexplored. Additionally, while studies have documented the influence of self-efficacy on stress management, general self-efficacy has yet to be fully understood in the context of cardiovascular stress reactivity (CVR). This study investigated the influence of self-efficacy beliefs on CVR during acute psychological stress tasks.

Sedentary behaviour, but not moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, is associated with respiratory responses to acute psychological stress.

Background: Acute psychological stress induces respiratory responses, and stress-induced respiratory changes can be used to non-invasively reflect metabolic regulation. Respiratory and cardiovascular responses to stress are both driven by sympathetic mechanisms. Higher volumes of sedentary behaviour and lower volumes of physical activity are associated with elevated sympathetic tone and larger cardiovascular responses to stress.

Drivers with and without Obesity Respond Differently to a Multi-Component Health Intervention in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers.

Physical inactivity and obesity are widely prevalent in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers. We analysed whether obesity classification influenced the effectiveness of a bespoke structured lifestyle intervention ('SHIFT') for HGV drivers. The SHIFT programme was evaluated within a cluster randomised controlled trial, across 25 transport depots in the UK.

Attenuated Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Psychological Stress Predicts Future Fatigue Symptoms in Truck Drivers.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 6-month health intervention on truck drivers' cardiovascular reactivity to stress and whether cardiovascular reactivity was predictive of depression, anxiety, or fatigue symptoms at 6-month follow-up.

Methods: Two hundred thirty-eight truck drivers completed a 6-month cluster randomized controlled trial to increase physical activity and completed a stress protocol (Stroop and mirror-tracing tasks) with measurements of heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure taken, alongside fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms assessment. Measures were taken at 0 and 6 months.

Frequently Interrupting Prolonged Sitting With Light Body-Weighted Resistance Activity Alters Psychobiological Responses to Acute Psychological Stress: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Background: Uninterrupted prolonged sitting and exaggerated psychobiological reactivity to acute psychological stress are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Breaking up prolonged sitting with frequent, short bouts of light-intensity physical activity acutely lowers CVD risk markers under resting conditions.

Purpose: To examine whether frequent interruptions to prolonged sitting with body-weighted resistance activity can acutely lower systolic blood pressure (SBP; primary outcome) and other cardiovascular (CV), inflammatory, and cortisol (secondary outcomes) responses to acute psychological stress.

The structured health intervention for truckers (SHIFT) cluster randomised controlled trial: a mixed methods process evaluation.

Background: This paper presents the mixed methods process evaluation of the randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT), a multi-component intervention targeting physical activity and positive lifestyle behaviours in a cohort of 382 truck drivers in the UK. The SHIFT RCT found a significant difference in daily steps between intervention and control groups at 6-months in favour of the intervention participants.

Methods: SHIFT was evaluated within a cluster-RCT and involved 25 transport sites (12 intervention and 13 control sites).

Sedentary behaviour, physical activity and psychobiological stress reactivity: A systematic review.

Background: Sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and psychobiological reactivity to acute psychological stress are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Sedentary behaviour and physical activity influence autonomic, haemodynamic, and inflammatory pathways under resting conditions, and these pathways become activated under acute psychological stress. However, it is unclear whether sedentary behaviour and physical activity relate to psychobiological responses to stress.

The effectiveness of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT): a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Background: Long distance heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers exhibit higher than nationally representative rates of obesity, and obesity-related co-morbidities, and are underserved in terms of health promotion initiatives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the multicomponent 'Structured Health Intervention For Truckers' (SHIFT), compared to usual care, at 6- and 16-18-month follow-up.

Methods: We conducted a two-arm cluster RCT in transport sites throughout the Midlands, UK.

Sedentary behaviour is associated with heightened cardiovascular, inflammatory and cortisol reactivity to acute psychological stress.

Background: Sedentary behaviour is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Exaggerated psychobiological responses to acute psychological stress increase CVD risk. Sedentary behaviour is associated with characteristics that can predict large psychobiological stress response patterns (e.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Cardiometabolic Health in Heavy Goods Vehicle Drivers.

Objective: Physical inactivity, prolonged sitting, and unhealthy dietary habits are common in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers. These factors increase risk of long-term health conditions.

Methods: 329 HGV drivers across 25 UK depots completed a health assessment, including questionnaire completion, and objectively measured anthropometrics, blood biomarkers, physical activity (PA), and sedentary behavior.

Attenuated cardiovascular reactivity is related to higher anxiety and fatigue symptoms in truck drivers.

Depression and anxiety have been linked with reduced stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity (CVR), which could be indicative of autonomic dysregulation. Less is known about the association between work-related fatigue and CVR. Truck drivers experience high levels of depression, anxiety, and fatigue, with repeated psychophysiological stressors on the road, yet little is known about the effects of these conditions on their CVR.

Time in Nature Associated with Decreased Fatigue in UK Truck Drivers.

Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driving is recognised as a highly hazardous occupation due to the long periods of sedentary behaviour, low levels of physical activity and unhealthy food options when working. These risk factors combine with shift work and concomitant irregular sleep patterns to increase the prevalence of fatigue. Fatigue is closely linked with stress and, subsequently, poor physiological and psychological health.

Cardiometabolic risk factors and mental health status among truck drivers: a systematic review.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically review and summarise the literature on cardiometabolic risk factors, lifestyle health behaviours and mental health status of truck drivers globally to ascertain the scale of these health concerns.

Design: Systematic review reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched in January 2019 and updated in January 2020, from the date of inception to 16 January 2020.

Association Between Depression, Lung Function, and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Asthma and Occupational Asthma.

Objective: Depression is associated with autonomic and immune dysregulation, yet this remains poorly explored in asthma. We assessed associations between depressive disorder, lung function, and inflammatory markers in patients under investigation for occupational asthma (OA).

Methods: One hundred twelve patients under investigation for OA (60% men) underwent a psychiatric interview to assess depressive disorder, and spirometry, a methacholine test, sputum induction, and specific inhalation challenge (SIC) to assess OA.

Psychological distress is related to poor health behaviours in COPD and non-COPD patients: Evidence from the CanCOLD study.

Background: Patients with psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety) are more likely to have poor health behaviours, including higher smoking and lower physical activity (PA) levels. Smoking is a major risk factor for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and PA is critical for COPD management. However, no studies have assessed associations between psychological distress and these behaviours among patients with vs without COPD.

Relationship between antidepressant therapy and risk for cardiovascular events in patients with and without cardiovascular disease.

Objective: The American Heart Association has endorsed depression as a cardiac risk factor and recommends screening as part of routine practice. This has been met with controversy due to inconsistencies in the data linking depression treatment to better cardiovascular outcomes. Our objective was to prospectively assess the association between depression treatment (defined as being prescribed antidepressant medication) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients referred for exercise stress tests.

Blood pressure reactivity to psychological stress is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Introduction: Cardiovascular (CV) reactivity to psychological stress has been implicated in the development and exacerbation of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although high CV reactivity traditionally is thought to convey greater risk of CVD, the relationship between reactivity and clinical outcomes is inconsistent and may depend on the patient population under investigation. The present study examined CV reactivity in patients with heart failure (HF) and its potential association with long-term clinical outcomes.

Impact of Panic Attacks on Bronchoconstriction and Subjective Distress in Asthma Patients With and Without Panic Disorder.

Objective: Panic disorder (PD) is common among asthma patients and is associated with worse asthma outcomes. This may occur because of psychophysiological factors or cognitive/affective factors. This study evaluated the impact of panic attacks (PAs) on bronchoconstriction and subjective distress in people who have asthma with and without PD.

Positive and Negative Affect Is Related to Experiencing Chest Pain During Exercise-Induced Myocardial Ischemia.

Objective: Silent myocardial ischemia is thought to be associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes due to a lack of perception of pain cues that initiate treatment seeking. Negative affect (NA) has been associated with increased pain reporting and positive affect (PA) with decreased pain reporting, but these psychological factors have not been examined within the context of myocardial ischemia. This study evaluated the associations between PA, NA, and chest pain reporting in patients with and without ischemia during exercise testing.

Prospective Impact of Psychiatric Disorders on Employment Status and Health Care Use in Patients Investigated for Occupational Asthma.

Objective: We previously reported high rates (34%) of psychiatric disorders (PSY) in patients evaluated for occupational asthma (OA). We determined the impact of PSY on employment status and health care use 12 to 18 months later.

Methods: One hundred ninety-six patients underwent clinical and psychiatric interviews on the day of their OA evaluation.

Reactive hyperemia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in heart failure.

Introduction: Impaired endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events. FMD is impaired in heart failure (HF) patients, but less is known about hyperemic brachial artery flow. We investigated the relationship between FMD and hyperemic flow with adverse clinical outcomes in HF patients.

Do Women With Anxiety or Depression Have Higher Rates of Myocardial Ischemia During Exercise Testing Than Men?

Background: Women diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) typically experience worse outcomes relative to men, possibly through diagnosis and treatment delays. Reasons for these delays may be influenced by mood and anxiety disorders, which are more prevalent in women and have symptoms (eg, palpitations and fatigue) that may be confounded with CAD. Our study examined sex differences in the association between mood and anxiety disorders and myocardial ischemia in patients with and without a CAD history presenting for exercise stress tests.

Association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with 24-hour urinary catecholamines in individuals with untreated high blood pressure.

Objective: Depression and anxiety are considered risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The explanatory mechanisms, however, are still to be characterized. One proposed pathophysiological pathway is dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, including heightened sympathetic nervous system activity.