Job hassles and cardiovascular reaction patterns among urban bus drivers

Forty-six bus drivers took part in a longitudinal field study of cardiovascular reactions 10 urban driving. “Job hassles” were recorded by observers using a standardized list of stress-related events in traffic and on the bus. Measures of blood pressure, heart rate, and ratings of perceived mental strain were obtained after each route segment. Intraindividual correlations between psychophysiological recordings and job hassles were calculated and submitted 10 cluster analysis. Two reaction patterns were identified. I characterized by consistently, although modeslly, positive associations between the frequency of job hassles and psychophysiological reactions, the other characterized by a low association between the frequency of hassles and indicators of psychophysiological arousal. The former group displayed significantly higher blood pressure and mental strain ratings in the unwinding phase after work than did the latter group of workers. The results are discussed in terms of rate of “unwinding” after exposure to stressful conditions.