{"id":{"repo_id":"massey","oai_identifier":"oai:mro.massey.ac.nz:10179/12695"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/massey/oai:mro.massey.ac.nz:10179/12695","repository":{"repo_id":"massey","name":"Massey University","base_url":"https://mro.massey.ac.nz/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A pilot study : high intensity intermittent training to combat chronic stress in the New Zealand Police : a Master's thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand","abstract":"Background: Stress is increasingly being reported to be associated with immunosuppression, disease progression and psychological illness (Sergerstrom & Miller, 2004). Police are considered to be employed in a highly stressful occupation and due to this are at a heightened risk for developing negative chronic stress related disorders (de Terte & Stephens, 2014). There are known strategies to combat stress such as exercise. However, in moderately active individuals a more vigorous exercise programme is needed to reduce the effects of stress. High intensity intermittent training (HIIT) could be a potential stress reducing mechanism especially due to its success in treating obesity, weight loss and cardiac issues (Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley, 2012; Schoenfeld & Dawes, 2009). Aim: To see the effects of HIIT on chronic stress indices in the New Zealand Police. Method: Using three single case studies, this study employed a 10-week HIIT intervention measuring markers of stress such as Perceived Stress Scale scores, cortisol levels and associated blood immune markers at baseline and postintervention. Results: Chronically stressed police officers displayed high perceived stress scale scores and compromised immune functioning due to decreased cortisol secretion and increased eosinophil count. Post-intervention decreased perceived stress, normalised cortisol levels and reduced immune inflammation markers. Conclusion: High Intensity intermittent training decreases perceived chronic stress while also providing further evidence for the relationship between systemic inflammation and mental disease.","abstract_html":"Background: Stress is increasingly being reported to be associated with immunosuppression, disease progression and psychological illness (Sergerstrom & Miller, 2004). Police are considered to be employed in a highly stressful occupation and due to this are at a heightened risk for developing negative chronic stress related disorders (de Terte & Stephens, 2014). There are known strategies to combat stress such as exercise. However, in moderately active individuals a more vigorous exercise programme is needed to reduce the effects of stress. High intensity intermittent training (HIIT) could be a potential stress reducing mechanism especially due to its success in treating obesity, weight loss and cardiac issues (Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley, 2012; Schoenfeld & Dawes, 2009). Aim: To see the effects of HIIT on chronic stress indices in the New Zealand Police. Method: Using three single case studies, this study employed a 10-week HIIT intervention measuring markers of stress such as Perceived Stress Scale scores, cortisol levels and associated blood immune markers at baseline and postintervention. Results: Chronically stressed police officers displayed high perceived stress scale scores and compromised immune functioning due to decreased cortisol secretion and increased eosinophil count. Post-intervention decreased perceived stress, normalised cortisol levels and reduced immune inflammation markers. Conclusion: High Intensity intermittent training decreases perceived chronic stress while also providing further evidence for the relationship between systemic inflammation and mental disease.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kurtovich, Rebecca Jane"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016","date_published":"2016","updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:17:07Z","subjects":["Aerobic exercises","Psychological aspects","Stress management","Exercise therapy","Police","Job stress","Health and hygiene","New Zealand","Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["hdl:10179/12695"],"render_values":[{"text":"hdl:10179/12695","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2016"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Aerobic exercises","Psychological aspects","Stress management","Exercise therapy","Police","Job stress","Health and hygiene","New Zealand","Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["hdl:10179/12695"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.other","label":"Dc Description Other","values":["Background: Stress is increasingly being reported to be associated with immunosuppression, disease progression and psychological illness (Sergerstrom & Miller, 2004). Police are considered to be employed in a highly stressful occupation and due to this are at a heightened risk for developing negative chronic stress related disorders (de Terte & Stephens, 2014). There are known strategies to combat stress such as exercise. However, in moderately active individuals a more vigorous exercise programme is needed to reduce the effects of stress. High intensity intermittent training (HIIT) could be a potential stress reducing mechanism especially due to its success in treating obesity, weight loss and cardiac issues (Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley, 2012; Schoenfeld & Dawes, 2009). Aim: To see the effects of HIIT on chronic stress indices in the New Zealand Police. Method: Using three single case studies, this study employed a 10-week HIIT intervention measuring markers of stress such as Perceived Stress Scale scores, cortisol levels and associated blood immune markers at baseline and postintervention. Results: Chronically stressed police officers displayed high perceived stress scale scores and compromised immune functioning due to decreased cortisol secretion and increased eosinophil count. Post-intervention decreased perceived stress, normalised cortisol levels and reduced immune inflammation markers. Conclusion: High Intensity intermittent training decreases perceived chronic stress while also providing further evidence for the relationship between systemic inflammation and mental disease."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A pilot study : high intensity intermittent training to combat chronic stress in the New Zealand Police : a Master's thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:date.issued":["2016"],"dc:description.other":["Background: Stress is increasingly being reported to be associated with immunosuppression, disease progression and psychological illness (Sergerstrom & Miller, 2004). Police are considered to be employed in a highly stressful occupation and due to this are at a heightened risk for developing negative chronic stress related disorders (de Terte & Stephens, 2014). There are known strategies to combat stress such as exercise. However, in moderately active individuals a more vigorous exercise programme is needed to reduce the effects of stress. High intensity intermittent training (HIIT) could be a potential stress reducing mechanism especially due to its success in treating obesity, weight loss and cardiac issues (Gibala, Little, MacDonald, & Hawley, 2012; Schoenfeld & Dawes, 2009). Aim: To see the effects of HIIT on chronic stress indices in the New Zealand Police. Method: Using three single case studies, this study employed a 10-week HIIT intervention measuring markers of stress such as Perceived Stress Scale scores, cortisol levels and associated blood immune markers at baseline and postintervention. Results: Chronically stressed police officers displayed high perceived stress scale scores and compromised immune functioning due to decreased cortisol secretion and increased eosinophil count. Post-intervention decreased perceived stress, normalised cortisol levels and reduced immune inflammation markers. Conclusion: High Intensity intermittent training decreases perceived chronic stress while also providing further evidence for the relationship between systemic inflammation and mental disease."],"dc:identifier":["hdl:10179/12695"],"dc:subject":["Aerobic exercises","Psychological aspects","Stress management","Exercise therapy","Police","Job stress","Health and hygiene","New Zealand","Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Psychology::Applied psychology"],"dc:title":["A pilot study : high intensity intermittent training to combat chronic stress in the New Zealand Police : a Master's thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Sport and Exercise at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:17:07Z"}