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Mastromatteo LY, Lionetti F, Pluess M, Scrimin S. Moderate cardiac vagal tone predicts more cooperation in highly sensitive individuals. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14638. [PMID: 38951737 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Cooperation, as a mutual collaboration, is a defining feature of human social life. Individual characteristics can influence cooperation. Recent studies have shown a quadratic relationship between cardiac vagal tone (CVT), an index of self-regulation, and prosocial behaviors. Individual differences in cooperation might also vary as a function of people's environmental sensitivity (ES), i.e., may be influenced by individual differences in the perception and processing of inner and external stimuli. We tested the direct and interactive effect of CVT and ES on cooperative behaviors in two independent samples. We measured heart rate and engagement in cooperative acts in 80 young adults (M = 23.61; SD = 1.60) who were also asked to self-report on ES. We found an inverted-U relationship between CVT and cooperative behaviors. ES, on the other hand, did not predict differences in cooperative behaviors but moderated the relationships between CVT and cooperation, although the magnitude of this result was small. Specifically, only among individuals with higher ES cooperative behaviors change as a function of CVT. Highly sensitive individuals with lower or higher CVT, were less cooperative than low sensitive ones. Subsequently, we replicated the same study design in a second sample of 88 undergraduate students (M = 23.69; SD = 4.91). Once again, we found evidence supporting the presence of an inverted-U relationship between CVT and cooperative behaviors, and we also found that ES moderated the relationships between the quadratic CVT term and cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Lionetti
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Michael Pluess
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Sara Scrimin
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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2
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Ion A, Bîlc MI, Pițur S, Pop CF, Szentágotai-Tătar A, Miu AC. Childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation in everyday life: an experience sampling study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7214. [PMID: 37138049 PMCID: PMC10156801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34302-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for psychopathology, and increasing evidence suggests that emotion regulation is one of the underlying mechanisms. However, most of this evidence comes from single assessments of habitual emotion regulation, which may not overlap with spontaneous emotion regulation in daily life and which fail to account for within-individual variability in emotion regulation across multiple contexts. In the present study, we investigated the relation between history of childhood maltreatment, positive and negative affect, and multiple dimensions of spontaneous emotion regulation (strategy use, emotion regulation goals, emotion regulation success and effort) in everyday life, using experience sampling method (3 assessments/day, for 10 consecutive days), in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 118). Multilevel modeling results indicated that childhood maltreatment was associated with lower positive affect and higher negative affect. Childhood maltreatment was also related to lower use of reappraisal and savoring (but not suppression, rumination and distraction), reduced emotion regulation success (but not effort), as well as lower levels of and higher within-individual variability of hedonic (but not instrumental) emotion regulation goals. These results provide ecological evidence for multiple differences in emotion regulation in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ion
- Assessment and Individual Differences - AID Lab, Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mirela I Bîlc
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 37 Republicii, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, CJ, Romania
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Simina Pițur
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 37 Republicii, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, CJ, Romania
| | - Claudia Felicia Pop
- Nursing Discipline, Department Mother and Child, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iuliu Haţieganu, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aurora Szentágotai-Tătar
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Andrei C Miu
- Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 37 Republicii, 400015, Cluj-Napoca, CJ, Romania.
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Keogh TM, Howard S, Gallagher S. Behavioural clusters characteristic of cardiovascular reactivity profiles relate to poorer health outcomes. Br J Health Psychol 2023; 28:513-531. [PMID: 36458587 DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Blunted cardiovascular reactivity is associated with a distinct behavioural profile of greater exposure to early life adversity, coupled with higher levels of behavioural disengagement and symptoms of depression. The present study sought to extend on this work by investigating if behavioural clusters with distinct patterns of reactivity were related to health and behavioural outcomes at baseline and at a 4-year follow-up. METHODS Hierarchical cluster analyses were conducted using longitudinal data drawn from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS 2) Biomarker Project and the MIDUS 3 follow-up 4 years later. During MIDUS, 2 participants (N = 513) underwent a standardized stress testing protocol and had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout. In addition, hierarchical cluster analyses were conducted on responses from measures of early life adversity, behavioural disengagement and depression. Binary logistic regressions were conducted to determine whether cluster membership was related to health and behavioural outcomes which were taken at both time points. RESULTS Three behavioural clusters emerged with statistically different blood pressure reactivity patterns. The cluster characterized by greater exposure to early life adversity, higher levels of behavioural disengagement and depressive symptoms, had relatively lower blood pressure reactivity patterns compared with both the exaggerated reactivity cluster and the cluster similar to the sample mean. In fully adjusted models, this cluster was associated with hypertension (p = .050) and depressed affect (p = .033), while Cluster 1 characteristic of an exaggerated blood pressure reactivity profile was associated with depressed affect (p < .001). Cluster membership did not significantly predict future health status. CONCLUSION This study extends research on behavioural clusters characteristic of reactivity profiles to demonstrate how they relate to health and behavioural outcomes during MIDUS 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey M Keogh
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Siobhán Howard
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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4
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Brinkman HR, McCarthy DE, Mendes WB, Leyro TM. An Examination of Cardiac Vagal Control Indices and Cognitive Stress Appraisal in Cigarette Smokers. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2023; 48:97-107. [PMID: 35984578 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-022-09556-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Identifying factors that influence how individuals who smoke cigarettes respond to stress is important as stress is a risk factor for smoking and its maintenance. This study examined the modulatory role of cardiac vagal control (CVC), a physiological correlate of self-regulation, on cognitive stress appraisal processes of adults who smoke. Sixty daily cigarette smokers were randomized to receive positive or negative feedback during a modified Trier Social Stress Test. Pre- and post-task stress appraisals were assessed and resting and reactivity CVC measures were computed. Moderated regression models assessed if the relation between feedback condition and post-task stress appraisal varied as a function of CVC. We hypothesized that participants receiving negative feedback would report greater post-task stress appraisal compared to participants receiving positive feedback, and the strength of the effect of both feedback groups would be greater at higher levels of CVC. All models showed significant main effects of feedback condition (b = - 0.42, p = 0.01; b = - 0.45, p = 0.01) on post-task stress appraisal: participants receiving negative feedback reported greater post-task stress appraisal. No significant main or interactive effects of CVC and feedback condition on post-task stress appraisal were observed. This study demonstrates that stress appraisals of daily cigarette smokers are sensitive to social feedback, but are not moderated by individual differences in CVC. Future investigations are needed to clarify whether this finding is explained by smoking-specific impairments in CVC as well as the distinct and interactive effects of physiological and psychological processes implicated in stress and smoking risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Brinkman
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Danielle E McCarthy
- Center for Tobacco Research and Treatment, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Wendy B Mendes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Teresa M Leyro
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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5
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Brinkman HR, Hoyt DL, Fedorenko EJ, Mendes WB, Leyro TM. Cardiac Vagal Control Among Community Cigarette Smokers with Low to Moderate Depressive Symptoms. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2023; 48:159-169. [PMID: 36732418 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-023-09580-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Impairments in cardiac vagal control (CVC) have been independently linked to smoking status and depression and are implicated in self-regulatory processes that may exacerbate depressive symptoms and maintain smoking behavior. Yet, few studies have examined how depressive symptoms, even at low levels, influence CVC reactivity among individuals who smoke. Investigating these relationships may provide novel insights into how depressive symptoms exacerbate existing regulatory vulnerabilities among smokers. This study investigated how depression symptoms affect CVC reactivity as a function of changing situational demands among a community sample of 60 daily adult cigarette smokers. Participants completed a mildly demanding cognitive task while physiological data was recorded. Growth curve modeling was used to examine the main and interactive effects of self-reported depressive symptoms on CVC reactivity over the course of the task. We hypothesized that greater depressive symptoms would be associated with less CVC reactivity, characterized by smaller initial reductions in CVC values and a flatter slope over time. Participants were daily smokers with mild to moderate levels of depression. Final model results, where time was specified as linear and the slope was fixed, showed no significant main or interactive effects of time and depression symptoms on CVC reactivity. Findings suggest that at low to moderate levels, depressive symptom severity is not related to patterns of CVC reactivity among adults who smoke. This is the first study to examine this relationship in this population. Future investigations that examine patterns of CVC reactivity among smokers and non-smokers with more severe depression are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Brinkman
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Danielle L Hoyt
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Erick J Fedorenko
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Wendy Berry Mendes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Teresa M Leyro
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 53 Avenue E, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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6
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Yu S, Zhang C, Xu W. Self-compassion and depression in Chinese undergraduates with left-behind experience: Mediation by emotion regulation and resilience. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:168-185. [PMID: 35545873 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The protective role of self-compassion in emerging adult depression has garnered empirical support. It makes more sense to understand the psychological processes underlying this relationship. Based on the stress appraisal patterns, the present study examined the mediating roles of emotion regulation (ER) and resilience in the link between self-compassion and depression among college students with left-behind experience (LBE). METHODS A total of 391 LBE college students (Mage = 18.43 years; SD = 0.79 years) in Chongqing reported their demographic information and self-compassion (the Self-Compassion Scale) level at baseline (T1) and reported their levels of ER (the Emotion Regulation Scale), resilience (the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), and depression (the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale) 3 months later (T2). RESULTS The results revealed that (a) both ER (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and resilience separately mediated the association between self-compassion and depression; (b) cognitive reappraisal and resilience sequentially mediated this association. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal the underlying mechanisms of the associations between self-compassion and depression among LBE college students and have implications for interventions aimed at mitigating their depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education(Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyang Zhang
- China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education(Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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7
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Hagan MJ, Roubinov DR, Cordeiro A, Lisha N, Bush NR. Young children's traumatic stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic: The long reach of mothers' adverse childhood experiences. J Affect Disord 2022; 318:130-138. [PMID: 36030995 PMCID: PMC9420002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted parental and child mental health; however, it is critical to examine this impact in the context of parental histories of adversity. We hypothesized that maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pandemic-related negative life events would predict child traumatic stress symptoms (TSS) and tested potential mediating pathways through maternal pandemic-related TSS and/or poorer maternal sensitivity during the pandemic. METHODS Data were collected from a longitudinal sample of low-income, racially/ethnically diverse mothers and their children. Between May and November 2020, mothers (n = 111) of young children (M age = 7.42 years, SD = 0.45) completed questionnaires to assess their own and their child's pandemic-related TSS, exposure to pandemic-related negative events, and parent-child relationship quality. Maternal ACEs, maternal depression, parent-child relationship quality, and child internalizing symptoms had been assessed approximately 1-3 years prior. RESULTS Structural equation analyses revealed that pandemic negative life events were indirectly associated with child TSS via greater maternal TSS. For mothers, recent pandemic-related negative events were associated with their own TSS, whereas maternal ACEs were not. Maternal ACEs directly predicted greater child TSS, with no evidence of mediation by either maternal TSS or maternal sensitivity. LIMITATIONS All measures were parent report, and pandemic-related measures were collected at the same time point. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the long reach of mothers' own adverse childhood experiences, highlighting the negative consequences of these prior traumatic exposures alongside current pandemic-related maternal trauma symptoms for children's adjustment during the pandemic.
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8
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Wesarg C, Van den Akker AL, Oei NY, Wiers RW, Staaks J, Thayer JF, Williams DP, Hoeve M. Childhood adversity and vagal regulation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104920. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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9
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Keogh TM, Howard S, Gallagher S, Ginty AT. Cluster analysis reveals distinct patterns of childhood adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression that predict blunted heart rate reactivity to acute psychological stress. Ann Behav Med 2022; 57:61-73. [PMID: 35568985 PMCID: PMC9773378 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable evidence documenting associations between early life adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression with blunted cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. However, while often examined as independent predictors, it is also likely that a combination of these factors uniquely relate to cardiovascular reactivity. PURPOSE The present study employed multivariate cluster analysis to examine if distinct combinations of these outcomes relate to cardiovascular stress reactivity. METHODS Participants (N = 467) were predominantly female (60.6%) with a mean age of 19.30 years (SD = 0.82). Measures of early life adversity, behavioral disengagement, and depression were completed; in addition, participants had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored throughout a standardized stress testing session. Cardiovascular reactivity was calculated as the difference between mean stress and mean baseline cardiovascular values. RESULTS Analyses revealed two clusters with distinct patterns of exposure to early life adversity, levels of behavioral disengagement and depression, uniquely related to cardiovascular reactivity. In unadjusted models, Cluster 1 that was characterized by greater exposure to early life adversity, higher levels of behavioral disengagement and depression, was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) reactivity. Cluster 2 was characterized by reactivity values similar to the sample means. In fully adjusted models, Cluster 1 predicted heart rate reactivity to stress. CONCLUSIONS The present study identifies a behavioral cluster that is characteristic of a blunted heart rate reactivity profile, significantly extending the research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siobhán Howard
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Gallagher
- Department of Psychology, Centre for Social Issues Research, Study of Anxiety, Stress and Health Laboratory, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland,Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Annie T Ginty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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10
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Mefford LC, Phillips KD, Chung ML. Childhood Loss Experiences, Religiousness/Spirituality, and Hope as Predictors of Adult Life Satisfaction. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2021; 42:649-659. [PMID: 33052730 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2020.1828514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore how adaptive patterns of religiousness/spirituality and hope predict adult life satisfaction in adults, even if they had childhood loss experiences.Design and Methods Using a cross-sectional survey design with132 adult participants (mean age 33.8 ± 15.2, 82% female, 78% Caucasian) we estimated two hierarchical regression models to examine how dimensions of religiousness/spirituality (Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality) and hope (Herth Hope Index) predicted adult life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale) after controlling for effects of adverse childhood experiences (Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire) or chronic sorrow from childhood loss (Kendall Chronic Sorrow Instrument).Results When effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) were controlled, higher levels of hope (β = .416, p < .001) and forgiveness (β = .273, p = .023) and lower levels of religious/spiritual values/beliefs (β = -.298, p = .014) predicted higher levels of adult life satisfaction. ACE remained a significant predictor of adult life satisfaction in the final model. When controlling for effects of chronic sorrow, higher life satisfaction was predicted only by forgiveness (β = .379, p = .003), values/beliefs (β = -.354, p = .007), and hope (β = .357, p < .001), with chronic sorrow not a significant predictor of adult life satisfaction in the final model.Conclusion: Greater life satisfaction for adult survivors of childhood loss experiences could be promoted by interventions to enhance hope and foster forgiveness. These adult survivors may also need support as they engage with religious/spiritual struggle to reconcile their values and beliefs with childhood loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Mefford
- Lansing School of Nursing and Clinical Sciences, Bellarmine University, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.,College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kenneth D Phillips
- College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.,College of Nursing, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | - Misook L Chung
- College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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11
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Petrova K, Nevarez MD, Rice J, Waldinger RJ, Preacher KJ, Schulz MS. Coherence Between Feelings and Heart Rate: Links to Early Adversity and Responses to Stress. AFFECTIVE SCIENCE 2021; 2:1-13. [PMID: 36042915 PMCID: PMC9382966 DOI: 10.1007/s42761-020-00027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Past research suggests that higher coherence between feelings and physiology under stress may confer regulatory advantages. Research and theory also suggest that higher resting vagal tone (rVT) may promote more adaptive responses to stress. The present study examines the roles of response system coherence (RSC; defined as the within-individual covariation between feelings and heart rate over time) and rVT in mediating the links between childhood adversity and later-life responses to acute stressors. Using data from 279 adults from the Second Generation Study of the Harvard Study of Adult Development who completed stressful public speaking and mental arithmetic tasks, we find that individuals who report more childhood adversity have lower RSC, but not lower rVT. We further find that lower RSC mediates the association between adversity and slower cardiovascular recovery. Higher rVT in the present study is linked to less intense cardiovascular reactivity to stress, but not to quicker recovery or to the subjective experience of negative affect after the stressful tasks. Additional analyses indicate links between RSC and mindfulness and replicate previous findings connecting RSC to emotion regulation and well-being outcomes. Taken together, these findings are consistent with the idea that uncoupling between physiological and emotional streams of affective experiences may be one of the mechanisms connecting early adversity to later-life affective responses. These findings also provide evidence that RSC and rVT are associated with distinct aspects of self-regulation under stress. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-020-00027-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Petrova
- Psychology Department, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 USA
| | | | - Jenna Rice
- Department of Psychology, Clark University, Worcester, MA USA
| | | | - Kristopher J. Preacher
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN USA
| | - Marc S. Schulz
- Psychology Department, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 USA
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12
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Sigrist C, Mürner-Lavanchy I, Peschel SKV, Schmidt SJ, Kaess M, Koenig J. Early life maltreatment and resting-state heart rate variability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:307-334. [PMID: 33171141 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent focus on the consequences of early life adversity (ELA) in neurobiological research led to a variety of findings suggesting alterations in several physiological systems, such as the cardiovascular system. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we focused on the relationship between early life maltreatment (ELM), one form of ELA, and resting vagal activity indexed by resting-state heart rate variability (HRV). A systematic search of the literature yielded 1'264 hits, of which 32 studies reporting data for group comparisons or correlations were included. By quantitative synthesis of existing studies using random-effect models, we found no evidence for a relationship between ELM exposure and resting vagal activity in principal. Conducting meta-regression analyses, however, we found the relationship between ELM and resting vagal activity to significantly vary as a function of both age and the presence of psychopathology. In light of the current multitude of vastly unclear pathways linking ELM to the onset of disease, we emphasize the need for further research and outline several aspects to consider in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Sigrist
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephanie K V Peschel
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefanie J Schmidt
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Section for Translational Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Koenig
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Section for Experimental Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Somers JA, Luecken LJ. Socioemotional Mechanisms of Children's Differential Response to the Effects of Maternal Sensitivity on Child Adjustment. PARENTING, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020; 21:241-275. [PMID: 34483750 PMCID: PMC8411900 DOI: 10.1080/15295192.2020.1809955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Children differ in the extent to which they reap the benefits of maternal sensitive care or suffer the adverse consequences of insensitive care, and these differences can be accounted for by biological characteristics. However, how susceptible children adapt to maternal sensitivity in ways that either maximize positive development or lead to maladjustment has yet to be determined. Here, we propose a novel model of socioemotional mechanisms by which the joint influences of maternal sensitivity and child biological characteristics influence child adjustment. DESIGN We propose a theoretical model, in which children's vagal functioning and polymorphisms in serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) and dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) genes confer susceptibility to the effects of maternal sensitivity on internalizing, externalizing, prosocial and moral behavior via changes in interpersonal strategies for emotion regulation, the threat response system, and empathy. RESULTS Theoretical and empirical support for the proposed mechanisms are provided. CONCLUSIONS The proposed mechanistic model of susceptibility to maternal sensitivity offers a novel framework of for whom and how children are affected by early maternal care, highlighting multiple reciprocal, interacting influences across genes, physiology, behavior, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Somers
- Arizona State University, Department of Psychology, PO Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85287
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14
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Roddick CM, Chen FS. Effects of Chronic and State Loneliness on Heart Rate Variability in Women. Ann Behav Med 2020; 55:460-475. [PMID: 32889527 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaaa065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loneliness, the subjective experience of social isolation, represents one of the largest risk factors for physical illness and early death in humans. However, the mechanisms by which loneliness leads to adverse health outcomes are not well understood. PURPOSE In this study, we examined altered parasympathetic nervous system function as a potential pathway by which chronic loneliness and state loneliness may "get under the skin" to impact cardiovascular physiology. METHODS In a controlled laboratory setting, vagally mediated resting heart rate variability (HRV), HRV reactivity to an induction of state loneliness, and HRV reactivity to a cognitive challenge task were assessed in a sample of 316 healthy women (18-28 years). RESULTS Greater chronic loneliness in women predicted lower resting HRV, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, after controlling for demographic, psychosocial, and health behavior covariates. Furthermore, women higher in chronic loneliness experienced significantly larger increases in HRV to state loneliness and reported significantly higher levels of negative affect immediately following state loneliness, compared with their less chronically lonely counterparts. Chronic loneliness also predicted blunted HRV reactivity-a maladaptive physiological response-to cognitive challenge. CONCLUSIONS The current findings provide evidence that chronic loneliness is associated with altered parasympathetic function (both resting HRV and HRV reactivity) in women, and that the immediate experience of state loneliness is linked to a proximate increase in HRV among chronically lonely women. Results are discussed in terms of implications for cardiovascular health and the evolutionary functions of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Roddick
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Frances S Chen
- Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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15
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The Role of Physiology and Voice in Emotion Perception During Social Stress. JOURNAL OF NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10919-019-00311-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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16
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Hong F, Tarullo AR, Mercurio AE, Liu S, Cai Q, Malley-Morrison K. Childhood maltreatment and perceived stress in young adults: The role of emotion regulation strategies, self-efficacy, and resilience. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2018; 86:136-146. [PMID: 30290301 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment has many deleterious outcomes; however, trait resilience as well as emotion regulation strategies, including suppression and reappraisal, may mediate between childhood maltreatment and later perceived stress. For this study, 267 college students (183 females and 84 males; M age = 19.77, SD = 2.29) completed self-report measures of parental psychological and physical maltreatment, parental emotion neglect, habitual use of suppression and reappraisal strategies, emotion regulation self-efficacy, trait resilience, and recent perceived stress. Analyses were conducted to investigate gender-specific associations. In females, both suppression and reappraisal mediated the relationship between maternal/paternal emotional neglect and perceived stress, and suppression also mediated the relationship between maternal psychological maltreatment and perceived stress. Trait resilience mediated the relationships of all three types of maternal maltreatment, paternal psychological maltreatment, and paternal emotional neglect with perceived stress in females. There were no significant mediation effects in males. Thus, interventions aiming at reducing perceived stress associated with maternal or paternal emotional neglect or maternal psychological maltreatment in women may benefit from targeting both suppression and reappraisal. Such interventions may also be enhanced by efforts to strengthen trait resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Hong
- Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Amanda R Tarullo
- Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Andrea E Mercurio
- Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Siyu Liu
- Department of Psychological and Brian Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Qiyue Cai
- Department of Psychology, School of Social Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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17
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Human LJ, Mendes WB. Cardiac vagal flexibility and accurate personality impressions: Examining a physiological correlate of the good judge. J Pers 2018; 86:1065-1077. [PMID: 29473956 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Research has long sought to identify which individuals are best at accurately perceiving others' personalities or are good judges, yet consistent predictors of this ability have been difficult to find. In the current studies, we revisit this question by examining a novel physiological correlate of social sensitivity, cardiac vagal flexibility, which reflects dynamic modulation of cardiac vagal control. METHOD We examined whether greater cardiac vagal flexibility was associated with forming more accurate personality impressions, defined as viewing targets more in line with their distinctive self-reported profile of traits, in two studies, including a thin-slice video perceptions study (N = 109) and a dyadic interaction study (N = 175). RESULTS Across studies, we found that individuals higher in vagal flexibility formed significantly more accurate first impressions of others' more observable personality traits (e.g., extraversion, creativity, warmth). These associations held while including a range of relevant covariates, including cardiac vagal tone, sympathetic activation, and gender. CONCLUSION In sum, social sensitivity as indexed by cardiac vagal flexibility is linked to forming more accurate impressions of others' observable traits, shedding light on a characteristic that may help to identify the elusive good judge and providing insight into its neurobiological underpinnings.
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