%0 Journal Article %T Exploring perceived tension as a response to psychosocial work stress %A Holte, Kari Anne %A Vasseljen, Ottar %A Westgaard, Rolf H. %J Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health %D 2003 %8 April 29 %N 2 %@ 0355-3140 %F Holte2003 %X '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'This study extends the concept of tension, in part by observing changes in tension during the workday, to identify episodes causing elevated tension and relate them to bodily responses.

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METHODS ': 'Both questionnaires and qualitative interviews were used to describe the tension concept. Tension was scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) every hour, and trapezius muscle activity and heart rate were recorded. Ninety-four female workers from four service occupations participated.

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RESULTS ': 'Tension was described as a musculoskeletal activation response involving the upper body regions, but also autonomic activation responses were described. The cause of elevated tension comprised a variety of situational demands; however, contact with other people causing negative emotions was a common factor. Averaged muscular activity and heart rate responses did not correlate with prolonged perceived tension, but the differential tension score between high- and low-tension periods correlated with the corresponding differential trapezius activity responses. The regression line indicated no effect of short-term variation in perceived tension on median muscle activity for differential VAS scores of 2 cm or less. An increase of 2% of maximal electromyographic activity for a differential VAS score of 4-5 cm was indicated.

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CONCLUSIONS ': 'This study identifies work exposures that cause tension, and it demonstrates a physiological correlate with the subjective perception of tension in the short term. The low recorded muscle activation response does not represent a risk factor for pain by the traditional standards used for recording and evaluating muscle activity responses, but it may point to underlying pain-inducing mechanisms, such as low-threshold overexertion of motor units.

%K electromyography %K perceived tension %K psychosocial factor %K psychosocial work stress %K service occupation %K stress %K trapezius %R 10.5271/sjweh.714 %U https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=714 %U https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.714 %P 124-133