Effects of Wooden and Vinyl Interior Finishes on Stress Reduction Estimate by biological and psychological parameters

Short term effects of wooden or vinyl interiors finishes on reducing fatigue/stress after acute psychological stress using Uchida-Kraepelin Test (UKT) were studied. Profile of Mood States (POMS) as psychological parameters and Chromogranin A (CgA), Cortisol and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in saliva as biochemical parameters, were examined in twenty healthy subjects comprising university students and white collar workers. Average score of negative mood items of POMS, Tension-Anxiety (T-A), Depression-Dejection (D-D), Anger-Hostility (A-H), Fatigue, Confusion, all decreased (p<0.01) after 30 minutes in wooden finishing interior, on the other hand, there was no significant change found in vinyl finishing interior. Changing pattern of average value of CgA, Cortisol, and IgA at several points in the experimental period suggested that the sympathetic nerve system got excited just after UKT and tended to subside gradually in both interiors, but there was no difference found between wooden and vinyl interior finishes. Further investigations are required using more effective means of inducing acute psychological stress on the subjects, and a larger number of subjects.