Estimation of subjective stress in university students using physiological response to psychological load

In this study, the relationship between subjective score of mental stress and autonomic nervous response was investigated in order to develop the estimation method for evaluation of the level of mental stress. In proposed method, the changes in physiological parameters which represent autonomic nervous during psychological load ware focused. Physiological indices were recorded during psychological load such as watching slideshow including uncomfortable images or tiny “4x4 Sudoku” task in healthy university students. Multiple regression model in which target variable was subjective mental condition STAI was obtained using the measured physiological responses. The result revealed a good correlation between subjective value of state anxiety from STAI and the output of the model. The results indicated the possibility of the objective evaluation for mental stress though it is necessary to investigate the optimal psychological load for the evaluation.