Studies show that stress can increase the risk of heart disease and other conditions. Therefore, identifying people who are most likely to have strong reactions to stress is an important goal in the prevention of heart disease. David Nordstokke believes facial expressions may be key markers for identifying people at risk of stress-induced heart disease. He is studying the relationship between facial expressions and stress by giving participants a test of social anxiety. During the videotaped test, David compares changes in heart rate with specific facial movements to determine if there is a link. He hopes the research will reveal patterns of facial expression that provide information about heart rate reactivity. Ultimately, David aims to help health care practitioners in the early detection of individuals at risk of developing heart disease so they can intervene with stress management programs.
Research Location: University of Northern British Columbia
Pain reactivity in children as an indicator of somatization and health care utilization
Research has substantially increased understanding of pain in children, revealing for example that patterns of response to pain and other illness symptoms develop during childhood and continue into adult years. A number of studies have also shown that some children tend to react more than others to bodily symptoms and pain. Dr. Elizabete Rocha is investigating whether or not children who react more intensely to pain are more likely to visit their doctors and have repeated health problems. Her research involves collecting data on the pain response of kindergarten-aged children during immunization. This includes examining the children’s behavioural and physical responses to the needle, and giving parents a questionnaire aimed at getting their insight into how intensely their children react to pain. She will then follow the children over a number of years to document their use of the health system. Through this long term follow-up, Dr. Rocha hopes to develop methods of helping to identify children who may be at risk for low pain tolerance and of helping to prevent or better manage their pain.