Cardiovascular reactivity in real life settings: measurement, mechanisms and meaning.

Cardiovascular reactivity to stress is most commonly studied in the laboratory. Laboratory stressors may have limited ecological validity due to the many constraints, operating in controlled environments. This paper will focus on paradigms that involve the measurement of cardiovascular reactions to stress in real life using ambulatory monitors.

Appraisal predicts hemodynamic reactivity in a naturalistic stressor.

Prior research has shown that appraisals are predictive of hemodynamic reaction patterns. The current study examined the relationship between appraisal and hemodynamic responding in a real-life stressful situation. Twenty-four men aged 19-28 wore a blood pressure monitor while presenting a paper in a class.

Vagal and sympathetic activity in burnouts during a mentally demanding workday.

Objective: We study differences in task performance and related sympathetic-vagal reaction patterns between burnouts and controls during a mentally demanding workday.

Method: Thirty-nine adults with burnout and 40 healthy controls performed mental tasks during a simulated workday. At pretest, just before lunch (lunch test) and at the end of the day (posttest), a Stroop color word task was administered as a probe task.