Measures of the psychophysiological response to recurrent anticipatory stress - the influence of neuroticism on heart rhythm and skin resistance

In the risk assessment of work-related mental stress, the use of objective psychophysiological methods could improve the identification of mental stressors. However, mental stressors often reoccur during work, and adaptation processes and individual factors may alter psychophysiological responses over time. In this exploratory study, measures of heart rhythm and skin resistance during recurrent anticipatory stress were examined in two groups with lower and higher neuroticism to provide information on which method is most appropriate for stress detection. In the with-in subject design study participants were required to first anticipate a neutral audio signal during a control condition and then a potential painful electric shock in two subsequent experimental conditions. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and skin resistance (SR) parameters were extracted during anticipation. Groups with lower and higher neuroticism were formed based on the Big Five Inventory. While SR parameters and the low-frequency HRV responded similarly under both electric shock conditions, the root mean square of successive time differences between heartbeats, and the high-frequency HRV did not respond. HR increased in the 1st electric shock condition in the higher neuroticism group only. Parameters that responded under both electric shock conditions may contribute to more accurately mapping of recurrent anticipatory stressors.