Health and wellbeing

Psychological factors such as affect, work stress, personal circumstances have
been related to health. However, the mechanisms by which these factors may
influence health are yet not clear, though both the autonomic system and the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been implied. Most studies have
focused on work stress or negative affect while positive affect and personal
circumstances have received less attention. Moreover, physiological parameters
may be influenced by complex interactions between for instance work situation
and personal circumstances (e.g. marital status, having children), and this may
be so especially for women, who have received less attention in stress research
than men.
The true nature of the interplay of these factors will not become evident in
the laboratory but requires ambulatory monitoring during everyday occurring
situations. The current availability of ambulatory impedance cardiography
allows for the measurement of both parasympathetic and sympathetic activation
throughout a normal day. The present study will increase our knowledge of the
daily changes in sympathetic/parasympathetic balance and HPA axis function on a
work day versus a leisure day, and how these changes relate to mood, personal
circumstances and work stress. In addition, these study results will be
compared with the results of similar international studies in women.

To investigate the mechanisms relating psychological wellbeing to health.

Cross-sectional observational study.

Participants will wear the VU-AMS, a non-invasive heart action monitor during
two 24-hour periods on a work day and a non-workday. The VU-AMS is small enough
to be worn unobtrusively and non-restrictive in movements. Previous experiences
with large groups of participants (>1000) have shown that, a few participants
may report mild disturbances of sleep. Saliva sampling will occur at 7 time
points during each of the measurement periods using Salivettes, which requires
the participants to chew on a cotton swab for two minutes. This is a simple
procedure without any discomfort. At the time of the saliva samples,
participants also provide a diary entry. At the end of each measurement period,
participants complete a computerized interview according to the Day
Reconstruction Method. Participants are asked to recall episodes throughout the
day and describe their activities and feelings for each episode. Prior to the
VU-AMS measurements, participants will also complete a questionnaire booklet on
their personal circumstances, work and social situation, lifestyle and their
general wellbeing. This study protocol presents no or at most very limited risk
for the participants. The laboratory sessions to instruct and attach the VU-AMS
monitors will take at most one hour while the time participants will spent on
the DRM interviews and questionnaire booklet will be approximately three hours
in total. Participants will receive a report on their heart rate during the two
measurement periods and the different activities and will receive 50 euro
compensation for their time.