• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2006

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of the positive menial stress, eustress, on autonomic nervous system(ANS) and human health. For this, we analyzed heart rate variability(HRV) parameters, the most promising markers of ANS function to assess the changes of emotional and physiological states of human body. We measured HRV Signal of World Cup group(281 male subjects: $29.8{\pm}5.6yr$., 187 female subjects: $29.0{\pm}5.4yr$.) in two stadiums at least an hour before the game during '2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan' event. We also measured control group's(331 male subjects: $30.9{\pm}4.7 yr$., 344 female subjects: $30.2{\pm}5.2 yr$.) in the health promotion centers in two university hospitals at least a month before and after the world cup event period. Considering physiological differences between males and females, the data analysis was applied to 'male group' and 'female group' separately. As a result, some tendency was observed that is different from what we have known as the stress reaction. In general, all parameter values except that of mean heart rate tend to decrease under stressed condition. However, under eustressed condition, both heart rate and standard deviation of the Normal to Normal intervals(SDNN) were higher then those of normal condition(p<0.05). Especially, in case of female group, contrary to distressed condition, every frequency-domain powers showed tile higher value(p<0.05, p<0.001). Considering that decrease of HRV indicates the loss of one's health, the increase of SDNN and frequency parameters means that homeostasis control mechanism of ANS is functioning positively. Accordingly, induction of eustress from international sports event may affect positively to the people's health.