Effects of Workplace Stress on Hong Kong Employees Heart Rate Variability

Abstract

Adrian Low and Rollin McCraty

Research on workplace stress measurements varied without much accuracy and effectiveness. The objective of this study was to introduce a new quantitative, assessment tool emWave Pro Plus (Institute of Heart Math) and to compare Heart Rate. Variability (HRV) results with the Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment (POQA) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Eightyfive (85) full-time employees, who were working at least 40 hours per week in a large corporation, participated in this study. Firstly, signify cant negative correlations were found between Subjective Stress and HRV measures: Perceived Stress and 5-minute Mean Inter-Beat-Interval (IBI), r=-0.217; Perceived stress and 5 min SDNN, r=-0.255 and Perceived stress and Ln 5 min RMSSD (Ln means the natural logarithm), r=-0.282. Secondly, significant negative correlations were found between age and the HRV measures: 1-minute SDNN (r=-.235, p<0.01); 5-minute SDNN (r=-0.290, p<0.01); 5-minute RMSSD (r=-0.395, p<0.01); Total Power (r=-0.272, p<0.05); Very Low Frequency (r=-0.215, p<0.05) and High Frequency (r=-0.402, p<0.01). Thirdly, significant negative correlation was found between Normalized Coherence and Relational Tension (r=-0.222, p<0.05). Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between Emotional Stress and the Mean Heart Rate Range (MHRR), r=0.216 and between Intention to Quit and 5-minute Ln Very Low Frequency (VLF), r=0.234. The research shows promising results and future studies should continue to tap into HRV as an objective measure of mental health and workplace stress.

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