The relationship of anxiety level and regulatory profile of cardiac rhythm in military students in conditions of examination

The article presents the research results of a regulatory profile of cardiac rhythm in a situation of examination, depending on the level of personal and state anxiety. In order to identify the characteristics of a psychosomatic response to the situation of examination stress the level of anxiety was assessed, which made the basis for ranking groups (low-, moderate-, high - anxious cadets). Cardiac rhythm variability was investigated by the method of R. M. Baevsky, and the statistical and spectral analysis was estimated. The study involved 42 apparently healthy cadets of the first course, 35 girls and 7 boys. The average age was (17.5 ± 0.5) years. A cross-sectional (transverse) study was carried out which protocol included 2 stages: the first stage: anxiety level was determined before the exam, functioning parameters of cardiovascular system and cardiac rhythm variability were registered. The second stage: registration of above mentioned parameters immediately after the examination. The analysis of the research results showed that the level of state anxiety before the exam in all groups was above the level of trait anxiety, which was seen as a natural reaction to the situation of the examination. The reaction of the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms of the autonomic regulation of heart rhythm in a standard situation such as examination were provocative depending on the level of anxiety. Highly anxious examinees showed a higher activation of sympathetic part of autonomic division of nervous system which indicated the generalization of anxiety and possibilities of its somatization.