Key result
Defensiveness during fear was associated with decreased heart rate variability, and repressive-defensive copers showed lower self-reported but higher behavioral negative affect than others.
Observational
Defensive coping styles are associated with distinct physiological responses, including decreased heart rate variability during fear and increased diastolic blood pressure during anger.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Defensive coping may warrant attention in autonomic assessment; leaves open whether targeting repression alters CV risk.
Pauls et al. (2003) reported an observational. Repressive and defensive coping styles vs. Other participants was evaluated on Somatovisceral responses and emotion self-reports. Defensiveness during fear was associated with decreased heart rate variability, and repressive-defensive copers showed lower self-reported but higher behavioral negative affect than others.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: