BACKGROUND: Spirituality has been suggested to be associated with positive health, but potential biological mediators have not been well characterized. PURPOSE AND METHODS: The present study examined, in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults, the potential relationship between spirituality and patterns of cardiac autonomic control, which may have health significance. Measures of parasympathetic (high-frequency heart rate variability) and sympathetic (pre-ejection period) cardiac control were obtained from a representative sample of 229 participants. Participants completed questionnaires to assess spirituality (closeness to and satisfactory relationship with God). Personality, demographic, anthropometric, health behavior, and health status information was also obtained. A series of hierarchical regression models was used to examine the relations between spirituality, the autonomic measures, and two derived indexes--cardiac autonomic balance (CAB, reflecting parasympathetic to sympathetic balance) and cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR, reflecting total autonomic control). RESULTS: Spirituality, net of demographics, or other variables were found to be associated with enhanced parasympathetic as well as sympathetic cardiac control (yielding a higher CAR) but was not associated with CAB. Although the number of cases was small (N = 11), both spirituality and CAR were significant negative predictors of the prior occurrence of a myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based sample, spirituality appears to be associated with a specific pattern of CAR, characterized by a high level of cardiac autonomic control, irrespective of the relative contribution of the two autonomic branches. This pattern of autonomic control may have health significance.
BACKGROUND: Spirituality has been suggested to be associated with positive health, but potential biological mediators have not been well characterized. PURPOSE AND METHODS: The present study examined, in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults, the potential relationship between spirituality and patterns of cardiac autonomic control, which may have health significance. Measures of parasympathetic (high-frequency heart rate variability) and sympathetic (pre-ejection period) cardiac control were obtained from a representative sample of 229 participants. Participants completed questionnaires to assess spirituality (closeness to and satisfactory relationship with God). Personality, demographic, anthropometric, health behavior, and health status information was also obtained. A series of hierarchical regression models was used to examine the relations between spirituality, the autonomic measures, and two derived indexes--cardiac autonomic balance (CAB, reflecting parasympathetic to sympathetic balance) and cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR, reflecting total autonomic control). RESULTS: Spirituality, net of demographics, or other variables were found to be associated with enhanced parasympathetic as well as sympathetic cardiac control (yielding a higher CAR) but was not associated with CAB. Although the number of cases was small (N = 11), both spirituality and CAR were significant negative predictors of the prior occurrence of a myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based sample, spirituality appears to be associated with a specific pattern of CAR, characterized by a high level of cardiac autonomic control, irrespective of the relative contribution of the two autonomic branches. This pattern of autonomic control may have health significance.
Authors: Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher; George Fitchett; Kathleen M Hovey; Eliezer Schnall; Cynthia Thomson; Christopher A Andrews; Sybil Crawford; Mary Jo O'Sullivan; Stephen Post; Rowan T Chlebowski; Judith Ockene Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Crystal L Park; Kevin S Masters; John M Salsman; Amy Wachholtz; Andrea D Clements; Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher; Kelly Trevino; Danielle M Wischenka Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2016-06-24
Authors: Puneet Singh; Louise C Hawkley; Thomas W McDade; John T Cacioppo; Christopher M Masi Journal: Clin Auton Res Date: 2009-06-07 Impact factor: 4.435