職場の安全とつながりを高めるポリヴェーガル理論の応用

Applying Polyvagal Theory to Occupational Health: Enhancing Workplace Safety and Connection

本連載の最終回では、ポリヴェーガル理論を産業保健の現場でどのように活用できるかについて解説します。自律神経の3つの系統が環境に応じて切り替わることで、職場での心理的安全性やチームの連携にどのような影響を与えるのかを探ります。特に、過重労働やメンタルヘルス不調者への支援において、ポリヴェーガル理論がどのように役立つのかを具体的に紹介します。読者の皆さんが職場での健康管理に役立てられる実践的な知識を提供します。

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In the first two parts

of this series,

we introduced

the basics of

the Polyvagal Theory

and its relationship

with psychological safety.

In this final part,

we will discuss

how to apply

in the field of

occupational health.

When the autonomic nervous system switches,

the body undergoes

various physiological responses.

According to the Polyvagal Theory,

there are three branches

of the autonomic nervous system

that respond to the environment.

1. The nerve for creating connections

(Ventral Vagal Complex)

When the environment feels safe

and you are relaxed

with trusted friends or family,

the "nerve for creating connections" is activated,

leading to the following physiological responses:

- Muscles around the forehead and eyes relax,

creating a soft gaze.

- The corners of the eyes lower,

giving a gentle look.

- Facial expressions become soft and relaxed.

- The voice becomes calm and modulated.

- Heart rate and blood pressure stabilize.

- Breathing becomes deep and slow.

- The chest expands,

and posture becomes open and relaxed.

2. The nerve for taking action

(Sympathetic Nervous System)

When you feel stressed or in danger

and cannot connect with others,

the "nerve for taking action" is activated

to deal with the situation,

- Pupils dilate,

eyes widen, and become dry.

- The gaze becomes sharp,

and the field of vision narrows.

- The voice and facial expressions become tense.

- Heart rate and blood pressure increase.

- The face may flush.

- Breathing becomes shallow and rapid.

- Muscles tense,

and there may be trembling and sweating.

- Digestive and urinary activities decrease.

- Posture becomes forward-leaning.

3. The nerve for protecting life

(Dorsal Vagal Complex)

When the sympathetic nervous system is dominant

for a long time

or under sudden stress,

and you feel helpless,

the "nerve for protecting life" is activated

to prioritize survival,

- Pupils and eyes become smaller.

- Hearing becomes less sensitive.

- The voice becomes monotone,

and facial expressions diminish.

- Heart rate and blood pressure decrease.

- The face becomes pale.

- Breathing becomes slow and shallow.

- There is a sense of fatigue, lethargy, and chills.

- Digestive and urinary activities increase.

- Memory, concentration, and cognitive speed decrease.

- The chest contracts,

and posture becomes hunched.

In cases of mental health issues,

symptoms often start

with digestive complaints

like stomach problems or nausea.

This is because the body alternates

between the sympathetic nervous system

and the dorsal vagal complex.

If the workplace lacks

a sense of safety, security, and connection,

it can lead to

various negative behaviors and phenomena.

Without psychological safety,

team members may not trust each other,

fear showing weakness,

and feel isolated.

This can result in

delayed reporting,

hiding mistakes,

and a sense of working alone.

In the short term,

the sympathetic nervous system

can help manage stress,

but prolonged lack of psychological safety

can lead to exhaustion

and activation of the dorsal vagal complex.

This results in

decreased cognitive functions,

increased mistakes,

and longer working hours

to compensate for reduced performance.

To apply the Polyvagal Theory

in occupational health,

it is important to foster

a sense of connection and support

within the team.

During overwork consultations,

encourage team members

to avoid isolation

and promote a blend of

the ventral vagal complex

and sympathetic nervous system

for active engagement.

For those returning to work

after mental health leave,

it is crucial to acknowledge

their efforts

and avoid self-blame.

Explain that it is natural

to feel tired

due to the increased information load

and that they will recover

at their own pace.

Lastly, occupational health staff

should maintain their own ventral vagal state

to provide a sense of safety

and connection to those they support.

Simple practices like

deep abdominal breathing

and maintaining a soft facial expression

can help activate

the ventral vagal complex.

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このシリーズの最初の2部では、ポリヴェーガル理論の基本と心理的安全性との関係について紹介しました。この最終部では、ポリヴェーガル理論を産業保健の分野でどのように応用するかについて説明します。

自律神経系が切り替わると、身体はさまざまな生理的反応を示します。ポリヴェーガル理論によれば、自律神経系には環境に応じて反応する3つの枝があります。

つながりを作るための神経（腹側迷走神経複合体）環境が安全で、信頼できる友人や家族とリラックスしているとき、「つながりを作るための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
眉間や目の周りの筋肉が緩み、柔らかい目になる
目じりが下がり、優しい瞳になる
表情が柔らかくリラックスする
声が穏やかで抑揚に富む
心拍数と血圧が安定する
呼吸が深くゆっくりになる
胸郭が広がり、姿勢が開放的でリラックスする
自ら動いてなんとかするための神経（交感神経）
ストレスや危険を感じ、他者とつながれないとき、「自ら動いてなんとかするための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
瞳孔が散大し、目が見開き、乾燥する
目つきが鋭くなり、視野が狭くなる
声や表情が緊張する
心拍数と血圧が上がる
顔が紅潮する
呼吸が浅く速くなる
筋肉が緊張し、震えや発汗が見られる
消化器や泌尿器の活動が低下する
姿勢が前のめりになる
いのちを守るための神経（背側迷走神経複合体）
交感神経が長時間優位になったり、急激なストレスを受けたりして無力感を感じると、「いのちを守るための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
瞳孔や目が小さくなる
聴覚が鈍くなる
声が単調になり、表情が乏しくなる
心拍数と血圧が下がる
顔が蒼白になる
呼吸が浅くゆっくりになる
全身の倦怠感や寒気を感じる
消化器や泌尿器の活動が亢進する
記憶力、集中力、認知速度が低下する
胸郭が閉じ、前かがみの姿勢になる

メンタルヘルスの問題がある場合、症状はしばしば消化器系の不調から始まります。これは、交感神経と背側迷走神経複合体が交互に働くためです。

職場で安全・安心・つながり感が欠如すると、さまざまな否定的な行動や現象が生じます。心理的安全性がないと、チームメンバーは互いを信頼せず、弱みを見せることを恐れ、孤立感を感じます。これにより、報告の遅れ、ミスの隠蔽、孤立感が生じます。

短期的には交感神経がストレスを管理するのに役立ちますが、心理的安全性が長期間欠如すると、疲弊し、背側迷走神経複合体が活性化します。これにより、認知機能が低下し、ミスが増え、パフォーマンスの低下を補うために長時間働くことになります。

ポリヴェーガル理論を産業保健に応用するには、チーム内でのつながりとサポートを促進することが重要です。過重労働の面談では、メンバーが孤立しないようにし、腹側迷走神経複合体と交感神経のブレンド状態を促進します。

メンタルヘルス休職から復職する際には、努力を認め、自責を避けることが重要です。情報量の増加により疲労を感じるのは自然なことであり、自分のペースで回復することを説明します。

最後に、産業保健スタッフ自身が腹側迷走神経の状態を保ち、サポートする人々に安全感とつながりを提供することが重要です。深い腹式呼吸や柔らかい表情を保つことで、腹側迷走神経複合体を活性化させることができます。

by 3kuni
作成:2024/07/22 11:51
レベル:中級 (語彙目安:2000〜2500語)

# 職場の安全とつながりを高めるポリヴェーガル理論の応用
## Applying Polyvagal Theory to Occupational Health: Enhancing Workplace Safety and Connection

![thumbnail](https://eigobox.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/g/9ab1924a555d0f2077b9a1d1b81ea35b64928177.png)

---

In the first two parts of this series, we introduced the basics of the Polyvagal Theory and its relationship with psychological safety. In this final part, we will discuss how to apply the Polyvagal Theory in the field of occupational health.

When the autonomic nervous system switches, the body undergoes various physiological responses. According to the Polyvagal Theory, there are three branches of the autonomic nervous system that respond to the environment.

1. The nerve for creating connections (Ventral Vagal Complex)
When the environment feels safe and you are relaxed with trusted friends or family, the "nerve for creating connections" is activated, leading to the following physiological responses:
- Muscles around the forehead and eyes relax, creating a soft gaze.
- The corners of the eyes lower, giving a gentle look.
- Facial expressions become soft and relaxed.
- The voice becomes calm and modulated.
- Heart rate and blood pressure stabilize.
- Breathing becomes deep and slow.
- The chest expands, and posture becomes open and relaxed.

2. The nerve for taking action (Sympathetic Nervous System)
When you feel stressed or in danger and cannot connect with others, the "nerve for taking action" is activated to deal with the situation, leading to the following physiological responses:
- Pupils dilate, eyes widen, and become dry.
- The gaze becomes sharp, and the field of vision narrows.
- The voice and facial expressions become tense.
- Heart rate and blood pressure increase.
- The face may flush.
- Breathing becomes shallow and rapid.
- Muscles tense, and there may be trembling and sweating.
- Digestive and urinary activities decrease.
- Posture becomes forward-leaning.

3. The nerve for protecting life (Dorsal Vagal Complex)
When the sympathetic nervous system is dominant for a long time or under sudden stress, and you feel helpless, the "nerve for protecting life" is activated to prioritize survival, leading to the following physiological responses:
- Pupils and eyes become smaller.
- Hearing becomes less sensitive.
- The voice becomes monotone, and facial expressions diminish.
- Heart rate and blood pressure decrease.
- The face becomes pale.
- Breathing becomes slow and shallow.
- There is a sense of fatigue, lethargy, and chills.
- Digestive and urinary activities increase.
- Memory, concentration, and cognitive speed decrease.
- The chest contracts, and posture becomes hunched.

In cases of mental health issues, symptoms often start with digestive complaints like stomach problems or nausea. This is because the body alternates between the sympathetic nervous system and the dorsal vagal complex.

If the workplace lacks a sense of safety, security, and connection, it can lead to various negative behaviors and phenomena. Without psychological safety, team members may not trust each other, fear showing weakness, and feel isolated. This can result in delayed reporting, hiding mistakes, and a sense of working alone.

In the short term, the sympathetic nervous system can help manage stress, but prolonged lack of psychological safety can lead to exhaustion and activation of the dorsal vagal complex. This results in decreased cognitive functions, increased mistakes, and longer working hours to compensate for reduced performance.

To apply the Polyvagal Theory in occupational health, it is important to foster a sense of connection and support within the team. During overwork consultations, encourage team members to avoid isolation and promote a blend of the ventral vagal complex and sympathetic nervous system for active engagement.

For those returning to work after mental health leave, it is crucial to acknowledge their efforts and avoid self-blame. Explain that it is natural to feel tired due to the increased information load and that they will recover at their own pace.

Lastly, occupational health staff should maintain their own ventral vagal state to provide a sense of safety and connection to those they support. Simple practices like deep abdominal breathing and maintaining a soft facial expression can help activate the ventral vagal complex.

---

1. つながりを作るための神経（腹側迷走神経複合体）
環境が安全で、信頼できる友人や家族とリラックスしているとき、「つながりを作るための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
- 眉間や目の周りの筋肉が緩み、柔らかい目になる
- 目じりが下がり、優しい瞳になる
- 表情が柔らかくリラックスする
- 声が穏やかで抑揚に富む
- 心拍数と血圧が安定する
- 呼吸が深くゆっくりになる
- 胸郭が広がり、姿勢が開放的でリラックスする

2. 自ら動いてなんとかするための神経（交感神経）
ストレスや危険を感じ、他者とつながれないとき、「自ら動いてなんとかするための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
- 瞳孔が散大し、目が見開き、乾燥する
- 目つきが鋭くなり、視野が狭くなる
- 声や表情が緊張する
- 心拍数と血圧が上がる
- 顔が紅潮する
- 呼吸が浅く速くなる
- 筋肉が緊張し、震えや発汗が見られる
- 消化器や泌尿器の活動が低下する
- 姿勢が前のめりになる

3. いのちを守るための神経（背側迷走神経複合体）
交感神経が長時間優位になったり、急激なストレスを受けたりして無力感を感じると、「いのちを守るための神経」が活性化し、以下の生理反応が起こります：
- 瞳孔や目が小さくなる
- 聴覚が鈍くなる
- 声が単調になり、表情が乏しくなる
- 心拍数と血圧が下がる
- 顔が蒼白になる
- 呼吸が浅くゆっくりになる
- 全身の倦怠感や寒気を感じる
- 消化器や泌尿器の活動が亢進する
- 記憶力、集中力、認知速度が低下する
- 胸郭が閉じ、前かがみの姿勢になる