Effect of Experience and Professional Role on Psychophysiological Stress Response in an Underwater Evacuation Training

Marta Vicente-Rodríguez¹, José F. Tornero-Aguilera¹, Bustamante-Sánchez², Jose A. Parraca^{3, 4, 5}, Vicente J. Clemente-Suárez^{2, 3,*}

1 - Psychophysiological Research Group, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain; martavr94@gmail.com (MVR); Josefrancisco.tornero@universidadeuropea.es
2 - Faculty of Sports Sciences, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Alvaro.bustamante@universidadeuropea.es (ABS)
3 - Research group at culture, Education and Society, University of la Costa, Barranquilla, Colombia; vctxente@yahoo.es (VJCS)
4 - Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal; jparraca@uevora.pt (JAP)
5 - Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

Correspondence: Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez, vctxente@yahoo.es

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55453/rjmm.2024.127.4.6

Received: October 30, 2023

Accepted: January 4, 2024

Abstract:

Background: This research aimed to analyze the effect of experience and professional role on psychophysiological stress response in underwater evacuation training. Methods: We analyzed 36 participants (39.06±9.01 years), divided into two different groups; 17 crew members (38.6±7.2 years) and 19 medical members (39.5±10.5 years). modifications in the rating of perceived exertion, subjective stress perception, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, cortical arousal, heart rate variability, spirometry, isometric hand strength, and short-term memory before and after underwater evacuation training were analyzed. Results: The maneuver produced a significant increase in SSP, RPE, IHS, FVC, and SatO2 at different moments of the intervention, being higher in crew members. Conclusions: We found that the underwater evacuation training produced an anticipatory anxiety response, and an increase in autonomous sympathetic nervous system modulation not affecting strength capacities, cortical arousal, and memory independently of the aircraft role (medical or crew).