Exploring the Nexus Between Physical and Mental Health: Assessing Stress Through Heart Rate Variability

Abstract: Physiological signals such as electrocardiography (ECG) have traditionally been associated with assessments of physical health. Mental health, meanwhile, often relies on subjective measures like self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews. Yet, the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system are intrinsically linked to mental states like stress. While previous studies have associated certain parameters with stress, variability in findings and protocols, as well as limited exploration of some parameters, especially non-linear measures, highlight the need for further research.This paper examines how parameters extracted from ECG can be used to study acute stress levels. By analysing ECG data, we seek to identify patterns and correlations that reflect stress responses in individuals, potentially serving as reliable, objective markers.We conducted experiments exposing participants to controlled stress stimuli. Each session included a baseline measurement at rest, exposure to a stressor (the cold-pressor test), and a recovery phase. Continuous ECG recordingwere obtained, and a comprehensive range of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters, encompassing time-domain, frequency-domain, geometrical and non-linear measures, was extracted to assess autonomic balance.Preliminary results demonstrate that certain HRV parameters change characteristically during acute stress exposure, indicating increased sympathetic activity (e.g., reduced mean and median NN intervals reflecting a shift toward higher heart rate). These physiological changes tended to normalise during recovery, underscoring the dynamic nature of the acute stress response. However, elevated parasympathetic-like measures (e.g., elevated sdnn, rmssd and pnni_50) during stress suggest that conscious or subconscious respiratory modulation can influence HRV indices. Moreover, some parameters revealed age-related differences that highlight how autonomic adaptability may diminish as individuals advance in age.These findings suggest that ECG-derived HRV parameters can serve as reliable, objective markers of acute stress. Understanding the physiological foundations of stress and the factors that modulate it, such as breathing patterns and age, may inform the development of non-invasive monitoring tools and interventions. This, in turn, could lead to more comprehensive evaluations of stress-related conditions like anxiety or depression, and support personalised strategies to enhance mental health and wellbeing.

Keywords: Mental Health, Stress, Physiological Signals, Electrocardiography, Heart Rate Variability

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005939

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