Alexander Lischke1, Robert Jacksteit2, Anett Mau-Moeller2, Rike Pahnke3, Alfons O Hamm4, Matthias Weippert3. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. Electronic address: alexander.lischke@uni-greifswald.de. 2. Department of Orthopaedics, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany. 3. Department of Sport Science, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Psychosocial stress is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a growing interest in biomarkers that indicate whether individuals show adaptive (i.e., stress-buffering and health-promoting) or maladaptive (i.e., stress-escalating and health-impairing) stress reactions in social contexts. As heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested to be a biomarker of adaptive behavior during social encounters, it may be possible that inter-individual differences in HRV are associated with inter-individual differences regarding stress in distinct social domains. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, resting state HRV and psychosocial stress was assessed in 83 healthy community-dwelling individuals (age: 18-35years). HRV was derived from heart rate recordings during spontaneous and instructed breathing to assess the robustness of possible associations between inter-individual differences in HRV and inter-individual differences in psychosocial stress. Psychosocial stress was determined with a self-report questionnaire assessing stress in distinct social domains. RESULTS: A series of categorical and dimensional analyses revealed an association between inter-individual differences in HRV and inter-individual differences in psychosocial stress: Individuals with high HRV reported less stress in social life, but not in family life, work life or everyday life, than individuals with low HRV. CONCLUSIONS: On basis of these findings, it may be assumed that individuals with high HRV experience less psychosocial stress than individuals with low HRV. Although such an assumption needs to be corroborated by further findings, it seems to be consistent with previous findings showing that individuals with high HRV suffer less from stress and stress-related disorders than individuals with low HRV.
OBJECTIVE:Psychosocial stress is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a growing interest in biomarkers that indicate whether individuals show adaptive (i.e., stress-buffering and health-promoting) or maladaptive (i.e., stress-escalating and health-impairing) stress reactions in social contexts. As heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested to be a biomarker of adaptive behavior during social encounters, it may be possible that inter-individual differences in HRV are associated with inter-individual differences regarding stress in distinct social domains. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, resting state HRV and psychosocial stress was assessed in 83 healthy community-dwelling individuals (age: 18-35years). HRV was derived from heart rate recordings during spontaneous and instructed breathing to assess the robustness of possible associations between inter-individual differences in HRV and inter-individual differences in psychosocial stress. Psychosocial stress was determined with a self-report questionnaire assessing stress in distinct social domains. RESULTS: A series of categorical and dimensional analyses revealed an association between inter-individual differences in HRV and inter-individual differences in psychosocial stress: Individuals with high HRV reported less stress in social life, but not in family life, work life or everyday life, than individuals with low HRV. CONCLUSIONS: On basis of these findings, it may be assumed that individuals with high HRV experience less psychosocial stress than individuals with low HRV. Although such an assumption needs to be corroborated by further findings, it seems to be consistent with previous findings showing that individuals with high HRV suffer less from stress and stress-related disorders than individuals with low HRV.
Authors: Gessynger Morais-Silva; Willian Costa-Ferreira; Lucas Gomes-de-Souza; Jacqueline C Pavan; Carlos C Crestani; Marcelo T Marin Journal: Neurobiol Stress Date: 2019-06-06
Authors: Alexander Lischke; Rike Pahnke; Anett Mau-Moeller; Martin Behrens; Hans J Grabe; Harald J Freyberger; Alfons O Hamm; Matthias Weippert Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2018-02-27