Filed under: Prevention, Research, Daily news,
stress
More than 100 million Americans commute to work everyday, causing high levels of
stress among workers, say researchers --
stress that contributes over time to the development of heart disease. Public transit passengers experience more physiological and psychological
stress the longer the ride.
Researchers studied commuters traveling between New Jersey and Manhattan -- measuring the cortisol
stress hormone levels in their saliva and examining questionnaires completed not just by the commuters, but by their spouses as well. At the end of the trip, participants were asked to proofread a document to measure the effect of the
stress on their analytic capabilities. Regardless of gender, each participant was less able to complete the proofread at the end of their trip. Researchers point out that commuting may be one of the most stressful job aspects for workers, yet very little is known about this aspect of environmental health.
