Effects of Occupational Stress and Health Behaviors on Heart Rate Variability in Live-Fire Instructors.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to identify the association between the healthrelated characteristics and the subscales of occupational stress of live fire instructors and heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS:We conducted questionnaire survey on a general health checkup for 15 live fire instructors. Occupational stress and HRV parameters were measured to determine the association between health behavior, including smoking, drinking, exercise, and sleep-related disorders, and occupational stress of live fire instructors and HRV parameters using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS:Smoking, insomnia, and job insecurity, a subscale of occupational stress measurement, showed negative Spearman rank correlations with HRV. CONCLUSIONS:Insomnia, smoking, and job insecurity (due to occupational stress) among live fire instructors were associated with decreased HRV.