Acute Physical Exercise Reduces Mental Stress-Induced Responses in Teachers

Laura Cristina Nonato, Alexandre Konig Garcia Prado, Daniela Lopes dos Santos, Karen Dennise Lozada Tobar, Jaqueline Alves Araújo, Jacielle Carolina Ferreira and Lucieli Teresa Cambri ()
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Laura Cristina Nonato: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Alexandre Konig Garcia Prado: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Daniela Lopes dos Santos: Physical Education and Sports Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
Karen Dennise Lozada Tobar: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Jaqueline Alves Araújo: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Jacielle Carolina Ferreira: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil
Lucieli Teresa Cambri: Postgraduate Program in Physical Education, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: This study assessed the correlation between obesity markers and mental stress reactivity. Mainly, it evaluated whether physical exercise (PE) influences cardiovascular reactivity to the Stroop color word test (SCWT) in teachers. Thirty-one school teachers were evaluated. The SCWT was carried out under (1) baseline and (2) 30 min after aerobic PE conditions. Teachers performed 30 min of PE. The reactivity to mental stress (Δ) during the SCWT for blood pressure (BP) was determined, with Δ being the highest value observed [Δ2 or Δ4: with pre-test values (0 min)]. Of the teachers, 64.52% were considered overweight/obese and 19.35% had a high clinical BP. However, 67.74% of teachers were considered physically active. Systolic BP (SBP) reactivity to SCWT correlated negatively with obesity markers (Rho = −0.36 to −0.60; p < 0.05). The SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) were higher at 2 and 4 min compared to 0 during the SCWT under both conditions ( p < 0.01). Moreover, SBP was always lower after PE ( p < 0.01) and DBP was lower at 2 and 4 min after PE ( p < 0.01). In summary, SBP reactivity to mental stress correlated negatively with obesity markers. Moderate-intensity acute PE reduced BP reactivity to mental stress in teachers.

Keywords: aerobic exercise; blood pressure; cardiovascular reactivity; heart rate variability; obesity; reproducibility; Stroop color word test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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