Active and passive coping under different degrees of stress; effects on urinary and plasma catecholamines and ECG T-wave.

Cardiac sympathetic, urinary and plasma catecholamine effects of active and passive coping were investigated during both low and high stress. Stress intensity was manipulated by varying the work load on a bicycle ergometer. As predicted, T-wave flattening of the ECG - an index of cardiac sympathetic activity - was significantly more pronounced during active coping than during passive coping. This effect did not depend upon the degree of stress. A significant increase in both adrenaline and noradrenaline levels depended upon the combined effects of active coping and high stress. Because high concentrations of circulating catecholamines are thought to be related to cardiovascular pathology, the results suggest that active coping during high stress might involve the highest cardiovascular risks.