Replication and extension of the link between the cardiovascular system and sensitivity to social pain in healthy adults

ABSTRACT

Resting blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) are linked to physical pain. Research also shows a link between social pain and physical pain, and an inverse association between resting BP and social pain. However, little is known regarding the relationship between resting HRV and social pain. Therefore, the present study aimed to replicate the link between social pain and physical pain, and the inverse relationship between resting BP and social pain, and explore the relationship between resting HRV and social pain. One-hundred twenty three healthy adults completed 1) resting cardiovascular measurements of BP and low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) HRV powers, 2) social pain sensitivity assessment via the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation (BFNE) and Mehrabian’s Sensitivity to Rejection (MSR) scales, and 3) physical pain sensitivity assessment via subjective pain responses during cold pressor test. The results indicated that no association was observed between social pain and physical pain, whereas resting BP was inversely associated with the MSR scores. Resting LF-HRV was inversely associated with social pain, whereas resting HF-HRV was positively associated with social pain. These findings suggest that physical pain and social pain may share biological substrates that are involved in BP regulation and pain control.

KEYWORDS:

• Social pain
• blood pressure
• heart rate variability
• central pain processing

Acknowledgments

The authors thank undergraduate and graduate research assistants who contributed to data collection for the present study. The study was supported by the institutional startup fund awarded to MU.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the institutional startup fund awarded to MU.