Table 2.
Stress related psychometric parameters
| Stress Parameter | Chronic Mental Stress (CS+) | No Chronic Mental Stress (CS-) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSS (range 0–56 points) |
18.37 (16.31–20.43) |
15.16 (13.46–16.87) |
0.001* |
| BDI (range 0–63 points) |
3.13 (2.11–4.16) |
2.24 (1.56–2.93) |
0.045* |
| Trait anxiety scale (STAI, range 20–80 points) |
47.19 (46.45–47.92) |
47.19 (46.67–47.70) |
0.966 |
| State anxiety scale (STAI, range 20–80 points) |
37.31 (34.64–39.99) |
31.51 (29.55–33.47) |
<0.001* |
| TICS work overload (range 0–32 points) |
11.11 (9.45–12.77) |
9.05 (7.67–10.42) |
0.006* |
| TICS social overload (range 0–24 points) |
7.00 (5.70–8.30) |
7.33 (6.18–8.48) |
0.571 |
| TICS pressure to perform (range 0–36 points) |
14.65 (12.81–16.50) |
14.31 (12.72–15.90) |
0.645 |
| TICS discontentment with work (range 0–32 points) |
10.24 (8.67–11.80) |
8.82 (7.51–10.13) |
0.030* |
| TICs excessive demands from work (range 0–24) |
5.13 (4.07–6.19) |
4.24 (3.43–5.04) |
0.021* |
| TICS lack of social recognition (range 0–16 points) |
3.56 (2.83–4.30) |
3.47 (2.70–4.25) |
0.778 |
| TICS social tensions (range 0–24 points) |
5.20 (4.25–6.15) |
4.42 (3.53–5.31) |
0.063 |
| TICS social isolation (range 0–24 points) |
6.45 (5.21–7.70) |
5.45 (4.39–6.52) |
0.114 |
| TICS chronic worrying (range 0–16 points) |
4.76 (3.87–5.66) |
4.04 (3.32–4.75) |
0.018* |
| TICS chronic stress (range 0–48 points) |
12.69 (10.47–14.91) |
10.64 (8.86–12.41) |
0.016* |
| Stress from test Stroop (5 Point Likert scale) |
3.33 (3.05–3.60) |
3.13 (2.89–3.36)) |
0.042* |
| Stress from test arithmetics (5 Point Likert scale) |
2.56 (2.30–2.81) |
2.59 (2.29–2.89) |
0.431 |
Stress-related psychometric parameters were collected once in the condition with chronic mental stress and once in the absence of chronic mental stress. Results are given as means of the scored points (95% confidence interval), Wilcoxon test was used, significant p values are indicated by an asterisk. Ranges of the respective tests or subtests are given to aid with interpretation
Abbreviations: PSS=Perceived Stress Scale
STAI = State Trait Anxiety Scale
BDI = Beck’s Depression Inventory
TICS = Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress