Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, HRV-Based Stress Index, and Attentional Performance in Tunnel Control Room Operators: A Pilot Descriptive Study

Working Under Pressure: Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Attentional Performance in Tunnel Control Room

Work in safety-critical environments requires constant regulation of stress, attentional functioning, and professional performance, often under time pressure and operational responsibility. The objective of this pilot descriptive study was to analyze perceived stress levels, stress coping strategies, selective attention performance, and a device-generated stress index based on heart rate variability (HRV) in a group of 30 male operators working in a road tunnel control center during a 12-hour day shift. Perceived stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), coping strategies via the SVF-78 questionnaire, and attentional performance through the d2 Test of Attention. The device-generated HRV stress index was recorded in measurement blocks at mid-shift and end-shift. Concentration performance scores were measured at the start and end of the work schedule. Paired-sample t-tests were used for repeated measures analysis. Results showed that the majority of participants fell into the moderate stress category.

The HRV-based stress index was significantly higher in the end-shift measurement block compared to the mid-shift block. However, since no baseline HRV was obtained at the start of the shift and diurnal and meal-related factors were not controlled, this difference cannot be solely attributed to accumulated work load. No statistically significant changes were identified in concentration performance scores. The highest mean values for coping strategies were recorded for situation control, reaction control, and positive self-instructions. These findings offer a preliminary multidimensional description of professional functioning in a safety-critical setting. The device-specific index was treated as an exploratory output and should not be interpreted as a diagnostic measure of physiological stress.

Given the pilot nature of the study, the small and homogeneous sample, and methodological limitations, conclusions must be interpreted with caution and considered a basis for further research. Safety-Critical Work Environments: Stress Regulation, Attentional Functioning, and Performance Under Professional Safety-critical work environments represent a specific context in which stress regulation, attentional functioning, and performance under professional demands are essential for stable human functioning. In such systems, decision-making quality is determined not only by professional expertise but also by the capacity to regulate emotional activation, maintain selective attention, and manage stress efficiently under time pressure and responsibility. In this context, the human factor constitutes an integral element of the safety chain. Chronic occupational stress is understood in specialized literature as the result of an imbalance between job demands and available resources.

Long-term exposure to psychosocial risks is associated with decreased job satisfaction, increased error rates

Long-term exposure to psychosocial risks is associated with decreased job satisfaction, increased error rates, and a higher risk of professional burnout. Therefore, perceived stress, coping strategies, and attentional performance constitute relevant and complementary domains for analyzing professional functioning under sustained demands. A specific occupational group in this context is tunnel control room operators. Their role includes continuous monitoring of technical and safety systems, interpretation of operational deviations, and coordination of emergency responses. The permanent recommendations of the International Association for Road Congresses (PIARC) emphasize the need for systematic selection and training of operational personnel in road tunnels, considering environmental demands and responsibility for traffic safety. The importance of the human factor in road tunnel operations is confirmed by research integrating human performance into risk analysis. Road tunnel safety results from a functional sociotechnical system integrating technological infrastructure, organizational structures, and human decision-making.

Directive 2004/54/EC establishes minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the trans-European road network and highlights the importance of operational and organizational safety components. In a broader framework, some tunnels may be part of critical infrastructure under Directive (EU) 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical entities. In such environments, stress regulation, attentional functioning, and operator performance are relevant not only for individual professional well-being but also for the safe and continuous functioning of transport systems. Although there is growing interest in occupational stress and the human factor in safety-critical professions, empirical research focusing specifically on tunnel control room operators remains limited. In particular, studies combining perceived stress, a device-generated HRV-based stress index, selective attention performance, and coping strategies during an actual work shift are rare. Such an approach may contribute to a more detailed understanding of stress regulation and professional functioning under continuous supervision.

The present pilot descriptive study analyzed perceived stress (PSS-10), coping strategies (SVF-78), a device-generated HRV-based stress index, and selective attention performance measured by the d2 Test of Attention in tunnel control room operators.