The impact of trait worry and emotion regulation on heart rate variability

Abstract

High anxiety and poor emotion regulation have been found to function as independent causes of stress to the autonomic nervous system. The aim of this study was to further explore how these factors may interact to control heart rate variability. Fifty college students took part in a three-part cardiac recording session followed by questionnaires on trait worry and emotion regulation. An interaction for trait worry and emotion reappraisal was found on two markers of heart rate variability. Low trait worriers with high emotion reappraisal had higher vagal tone than the other three groups. This finding was across all three phases with no specific reactivity or recovery difference. Emotion suppression was not found to significantly impact vagal tone. The negative impacts of trait worry and emotion regulation on heart rate variability were found in this sample of healthy college-aged individuals. Specifically, high trait worry could have a deleterious effect on parasympathetic control of the heart. Emotion regulation skills meanwhile can function as a buffer to stress and a reliance on sympathetic control.

Keywords:

• trait worry
• emotion regulation
• emotion suppression
• heart rate variability
• cardiovascular reactivity

Public Interest Statement

This paper examined the relationship how anxiety and emotion regulation can influence cardiovascular system functioning. Reduced variation in the beat to beat changes of the heart is associated with higher cardiovascular mortality. Previous research has found that trait and clinical anxiety are linked with decreases in heart rate variability. In this study, we explored how emotion regulation might be involved with the anxiety–cardiovascular system association. The findings indicate that the group that was lower anxiety and used more emotion reappraisals had the highest amounts of heart rate variability which would be cardioprotective. There were no significant findings related to the relationship between anxiety and emotion suppression with heart rate variability.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Michael M. Knepp

Michael M. Knepp is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Mount Union. He is the director for the undergraduate neuroscience major and runs the Psychophysiology and Neuropsychology Undergraduate Laboratory. He recently chaired a symposium on conducting research at smaller teaching-priority universities.

Erin R. Krafka

Erin R. Krafka is a second-year master of Public Health student at Wright State University. Her primary public health and research interests include studying health psychology, promoting healthy behaviors among individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions, improving childhood nutrition and reducing childhood obesity, particularly in underserved areas.

Erika M. Druzina

Erika M. Druzina is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Mount Union. Her major studies include neuroscience and with a minor in chemistry. Her interests are geared toward preventative care, as in the study regarding vagal tone and temperament, which can link to novel advances and treatment plans for cardiovascular health.