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An Examination of the Association between Heart Rate Variability, Anxiety, and The Need for Affect

Joseph, Nicholas Patrick, Joseph
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1537810169788763

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Resting high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) is chiefly known as a physiological index of executive function, emotion regulation capabilities, psychopathology, and overall well-being. The need for affect (NA), defined as the motivation to approach or avoid emotional eliciting experiences and situations, has been linked with emotion regulation capabilities, psychopathology, and overall health. Furthermore, the approaching and avoiding of emotional experiences has been linked with the same executive brain regions that are associated with resting HF-HRV. However, there has been no investigation on the direct association of resting HF-HRV and NA. Moreover, evidence suggests that both resting HF-HRV and NA are associated with trait anxiety, such that trait anxiety may play a mediating role in this relationship. Therefore, the present study examined both the direct relationship of resting HF-HRV and NA, and the potential mechanistic role of trait anxiety. The current study consists of 146 participants (82 females, 64 ethnic minority, mean age = 20). The participants first completed a 5-minute resting baseline, and then answered a set of questionnaires including the 26-item NA Scale and the 20 item Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T). The NA Scale encompasses two subscales intended to measure the motivation to approach (NA-approach) and motivation to avoid (NA-avoid) emotion inducing experiences, independently. Resting HF-HRV was measured in accordance with previously established guidelines. Zero order correlations showed a negative trending relationship with resting HF-HRV and NA-Avoid (r = -.16, p = .06). Controlling for important covariates, this relationship became significant (r = -.19, p =.03). No such significant associations were found between resting HF-HRV and NA-approach or NA-total. Mediation analysis showed that trait anxiety was indeed a significant mediator on the link between resting HF-HRV and NA-Avoid (B= -.96 (SE = .48), [-2.13,-.20], p <.05), suggesting that individuals with lower resting HF-HRV may experience greater trait-anxiety that may lead to a greater tendency to avoid emotional experiences. Above all, these results reinforce supporting evidence suggesting that lower resting HF-HRV and avoiding emotions can be psychologically and physiologically maladaptive. However, future studies are needed to verify these claims. Further future directions and implications will be discussed.
Julian Thayer (Committee Chair)
Michael Vassey (Committee Member)
Baldwin Way (Committee Member)
82 p.
Psychology
High Frequency Heart Rate Variability; HF-HRV; Heart Rate Variability; HRV; Need for Affect; NFA; Trait Anxiety; Anxiety

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Joseph, Joseph, N. P. (2018). An Examination of the Association between Heart Rate Variability, Anxiety, and The Need for Affect [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1537810169788763

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Joseph, Joseph, Nicholas. An Examination of the Association between Heart Rate Variability, Anxiety, and The Need for Affect. 2018. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1537810169788763.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Joseph, Joseph, Nicholas. "An Examination of the Association between Heart Rate Variability, Anxiety, and The Need for Affect." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1537810169788763

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1537810169788763
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.