Heart Rate Variability Measurement to Assess Acute Work-Content-Related Stress of Workers in Industrial Manufacturing Environment—A Systematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Human workers are indispensable in the human-cyber-physical system in the forthcoming Industry 5.0. As inappropriate work content induces stress and harmful effects on human performance, engineering applications search for a physiological indicator for monitoring the well-being state of workers during work; thus, the work content can be modified accordingly. The primary aim of this study is to assess whether heart rate variability (HRV) can be a valid and reliable indicator of acute work-content-related stress (AWCRS) in real time during industrial work. Second, we aim to provide a broader scope of HRV usage as a stress indicator in this context. Methods: A search was conducted in Scopus, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and Web of Science between 1 January 2000 and 1 June 2022. Eligible articles are analyzed regarding study design, population, assessment of AWCRS, and its association with HRV. Results: A total of 14 stud-

An Experimental Protocol for Human Stress Investigation in Manufacturing Contexts: Its Application in the NO-STRESS Project

“…The scientific validity of stress detection through HRV assessment is substantiated by neurobiological evidence [43]. Nevertheless, Tran et al [44] suggested that HRV does not fully reflect the work-content-related stress during work, and it is problematic to measure the effect of work-content-related stress on HRV in the real manufacturing environment. Tran et al [44] stated that since HRV strongly depends on too many factors (e.g., work context, individual physical and mental status), its real-time usage for stress monitoring can be problematic.…”

“…Nevertheless, Tran et al [44] suggested that HRV does not fully reflect the work-content-related stress during work, and it is problematic to measure the effect of work-content-related stress on HRV in the real manufacturing environment. Tran et al [44] stated that since HRV strongly depends on too many factors (e.g., work context, individual physical and mental status), its real-time usage for stress monitoring can be problematic. They emphasized the need for more comprehensive studies to distinguish work-related stress from typical stress types, as existing studies lacked solid scientific conclusions about the relationship between work-related stress and HRV [44].…”

“…Tran et al [44] stated that since HRV strongly depends on too many factors (e.g., work context, individual physical and mental status), its real-time usage for stress monitoring can be problematic. They emphasized the need for more comprehensive studies to distinguish work-related stress from typical stress types, as existing studies lacked solid scientific conclusions about the relationship between work-related stress and HRV [44]. In the literature, authors such as Zhang et al [45], Sriramprakash et al [39], Anusha et al [40], and Vila et al [41] used ECG to measure work-related stress.…”