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Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors

Goetz, Paul W.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308552215

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Psychology/Clinical.
Research has generally shown that worry leads to a decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac vagal activity. Low vagal activity has been associated with a variety of physical ailments, including cardiovascular disease. However, research has also revealed inconsistencies in the relationship between worry and RSA, and the assessment of possible moderating relationships is lacking. The present study investigated the relationships among trait and induced worry on RSA, as well as a number of health behavior moderators, in a sample of undergraduate students. One hundred-fifteen participants completed a pretest measure of worry along with a number of protective health behavior measures. While having their heart rate measured (RSA), participants engaged in a 10-minute baseline condition, a 5-minute worry condition, a 5-minute control condition, and a 10-minute recovery condition. Consistent with predictions, high trait worriers who reported higher levels of physical activity displayed significantly higher levels of RSA, relative to high trait worriers who also reported lower levels of physical activity. Moreover, the same effect was not found for low trait worriers. Possible cardiovascular health implications, as well as implications for effects of physical activity on worry from an afferent perspective, are discussed.
William O'Brien, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Robert Carels, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Casey Cromwell, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
William Morrison, Ed.D. (Committee Member)
Health Sciences; Physiological Psychology; Psychobiology; Psychology
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia; Worry; Health; Physical Activity; Cardiovascular

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Goetz, P. W. (2011). Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308552215

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Goetz, Paul. Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308552215.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Goetz, Paul. "Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1308552215

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.