Effect of Stress upon Rate of Change of Heart-Beat Rate

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the stability of the rate of change of heart rate (instantaneous heart rate) from non-stress to stress conditions. Ss were 80 white male science or engineering majors, all free from emotional or physical disorders. They were subjected to psychological and physiological stress, and all were required to show an increase from pre-stress to post-stress conditions in both subjective and physiological indexes of stress. Pre- and post-stress rate of change of heart-rate scores were compared. The difference between the mean scores was not significant ( p < .10). The correlation between pre- and post-test rate of change was .64. It was concluded that the rate of change of heart-rate is a stable parameter.