ADAPTIVE POTENTIAL OF INDIVIDUALS AGED 15–60 DEPENDING ON ANXIETY LEVEL
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728.2748.2025.102.27-33
Keywords:
anxiety, adaptation, cardiovascular system, functional state index, age groupsAbstract
Background. In the context of growing psycho-emotional stress, studying the relationship between anxiety levels, cardiovascular system function, and the adaptive capacity of individuals becomes increasingly relevant. Decreased stress resilience and dysregulation of autonomic systems may contribute to maladaptation across different age groups.
Methods. The study involved 109 individuals aged 15–60, divided into three age groups: Group 1 – 35 adolescents (15–21 years); Group 2 – 37 young adults (22–35 years); Group 3 – 37 middle-aged adults (36–60 years). Anxiety levels were assessed using the Spielberger–Khanin State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); the adaptive potential was evaluated by the Functional State Index (FSI) according to R. Baevsky; the cardiovascular response was examined via the Martinet–Kushelevsky test. Statistical analysis was performed using the mean and standard error (M ± m), and differences were tested with Student’s t-test.
Results. In the first group (15–21 years), a high level of state anxiety (45.2 points), moderate FSI (2.20), and a predominance of hypertensive cardiovascular response was observed, indicating limited adaptive reserve. The second group (22–35 years) demonstrated moderate anxiety levels, the lowest FSI (1.46), and a normotonic cardiovascular response, suggesting the highest adaptive capacity. In the third group (36–60 years), high trait anxiety (48.6 points) and the highest FSI (3.28) were recorded, along with a predominant hypertensive response type, indicating significant strain on adaptive mechanisms.
Conclusions. Statistically significant differences were found between age groups in anxiety levels, cardiovascular reactivity, and adaptation indicators. A significant difference (p < 0.05) in anxiety level was observed between the youngest and oldest groups, suggesting the cumulative effect of chronic emotional stress and the development of anxiety as a stable personality trait with age. FSI decreased by 33.6% from adolescence to young adulthood, indicating improved adaptation; in the 36–60 age group, FSI more than doubled, reflecting marked adaptive stress. Elevated anxiety levels, particularly trait anxiety, were associated with increased FSI and decreased efficiency of cardiovascular response to physical load. The highest adaptive potential was observed in young adults with moderate anxiety, while the lowest was found in older adults with high-trait anxiety. These findings emphasize the importance of integrated assessment of psycho-emotional state and physiological adaptation, especially in adolescents and middle-aged individuals.
References
Ahaiev, N. A., Kokun, O. M., Pishko, I. O., Lozinska, N. S., Ostapchuk, V. V., & Tkachenko, V. V. (2016). Collection of methods for diagnosing negative psychological states in military personnel (pp. 97–100) [in Ukrainian]. https://lib.iitta.gov.ua/id/eprint/107163/1/Посібник%20НПС_16.pdf
Ampleieva, O. M., & Pluzhnyk, A. Yu. (2022). Study of anxiety as the first emotional-situational reaction during student age. Scientific Notes of the V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University. Series: Psychology, 6, 28–33 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32782/2709-3093/2022.6/06
Chesnut, M., Harati, S., Paredes, P., Khan, Y., Foudeh, A., Kim, J., Bao, Z., & Williams, L. M. (2021). Stress markers for mental states and biotypes of depression and anxiety: A scoping review and preliminary illustrative analysis. Digital Biomarkers, 5(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 24705470211000338.
Dobosh, T. S. (2024). Anxiety as a factor of maladaptation among students in distance learning conditions [Bachelor's qualification work, Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University]. Institutional Repository of Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University [in Ukrainian]. https://elibrary.kdpu.edu.ua/ xmlui/handle/123456789/11070
Feshchenko, Yu. I., Kuryk, L. M., Prymushko, N. A., Turchyna, I. P., & Kanarskyi, O. A. (2022). Adaptive capabilities of the cardiorespiratory system in patients with bronchial asthma depending on the severity and controllability of the disease course. Asthma and Allergy, 1–2, 7–14 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.31655/2307-3373-2022-1-2-7-14
Freidlina, D. (2020). Anxious and aggressive states in students with different socio-demographic characteristics [Bachelor's qualification work, Sumy State University]. Institutional Repository of Sumy State University [in Ukrainian]. https://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/79730
Godoy, L. D., Rossignoli, M. T., Delfino-Pereira, P., Garcia-Cairasco, N., & de Lima Umeoka, E. H. (2018). A Comprehensive Overview on Stress Neurobiology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications. Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 12, 127. https://doi.org/10.3389/ fnbeh.2018.00127.
Han, H., Jia, H., Wang, Y.-F., & Song, J.-P. (2024). Cardiovascular adaptations and pathological changes induced by spaceflight: From cellular mechanisms to organ-level impacts. Military Medical Research, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-024-00570-3.
Kononova, M., & Kuchma, T. (2020). The essence of stress as a psychological category. Young Scientist, 1(89), 28–32 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32839/2304-5809/2021-1-89-6 .
Korovina, L., Zaporozhets, T., & Kozakevych, V. (2019). Influence of exogenous factors on somatic health and autonomic nervous regulation in children and youth. Info-education [in Ukrainian]. https://repository.pdmu.edu.ua/ server/api/core/bitstreams/96103a49-ab34-449f-8676-71fc9e4e6f5d/content
Levine, G. N., Cohen, B. E., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Fleury, J., Huffman, J. C., Khalid, U., Labarthe, D. R., Lavretsky, H., Michos, E. D., Spatz, E. S., & Kubzansky, L. D. (2021). Psychological health, well-being, and the mind-heart-body connection: A scientific statement from the american heart association. Circulation, 143(10). https://doi.org/10.1161/ cir.0000000000000947.
Liashenko, V., & Stetsenko, S. (2024). Features of heart rate variability against the background of sleep disturbances and stress factors: Theoretical aspect. Slobozhanskyi Scientific Bulletin. Series: Natural Sciences, 1, 43–49 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.32782/naturalspu/2024.1.5
Mbiydzenyuy, N. E., & Qulu, L. A. (2024). Stress, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and aggression. Metabolic brain disease, 39(8), 1613–1636. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-024-01393-w.
Musiienko, O., Semeniv, B., Fedorovych, V., Hurtova, T., Prystavskyi, T., & Hodyk, N. (2025). Comprehensive analysis of stress resistance and motivation of Ukrainian belt wrestlers: Physiological, cellular, and psychological markers of adaptation. Scientific Bulletin of the M. P. Drahomanov National Pedagogical University. Series 15: Scientific and Pedagogical Problems of Physical Culture (Physical Culture and Sports), 4(190), 103–110 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.31392/udu-nc.series15.2025.04(190).21
Norton, J., Pastore, M., Hotopf, M., Tylee, A., Mann, A., Ancelin, M.-L., & Palacios, J. (2021). Time-dependent depression and anxiety symptoms as risk factors for recurrent cardiac events: findings from the UPBEAT-UK study. Psychological Medicine, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291721000106
Schmitz, C., Wedegärtner, S. M., Langheim, E., Kleinschmidt, J., & Köllner, V. (2022). Heart-Focused Anxiety Affects Behavioral Cardiac Risk Factors and Quality of Life: A Follow-Up Study Using a Psycho-Cardiological Rehabilitation Concept. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.836750.
Sheludko, D. (2019). Neurofunctional features of the cardiovascular system in children with recurrent forms of respiratory tract diseases depending on the level of psycho-emotional stress [Candidate of Medical Sciences dissertation, Zaporizhzhia State Medical University]. Institutional Repository of Zaporizhzhia State Medical University [in Ukrainian]. https://dspace.zsmu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/15756
Tomasi, J., Zai, C. C., Pouget, J. G., Tiwari, A. K., & Kennedy, J. L. (2023). Heart rate variability: Evaluating a potential biomarker of anxiety disorders. Psychophysiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.14481.
Von der Embse, N., Jester, D., Roy, D., & Post, J. (2018). Test anxiety effects, predictors, and correlates: A 30-year meta-analytic review. Journal of affective disorders, 227, 483–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.048.
Yastochkina, I. (2020). Personal anxiety as a socio-psychological problem. Bulletin of Lviv University. Series: Psychological Sciences, 6, 165–170 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.30970/2522-1876-2020-6-24
