Key result
Higher resting HRV or HRV reactivity exacerbated the association between COVID-19 stress and emotional problems in adolescents, while lower resting HRV increased vulnerability to family adversity.
Why the study?
Stress and adversity related to COVID-19 may be more consequential for some adolescents' mental health than for others, prompting an examination into whether heart rate variability indicates differential susceptibility to associated mental health difficulties.
Does heart rate variability moderate the effect of COVID-19-related stress and family adversity on emotional problems in adolescents?
Population
87 adolescents (ages 13-19)
Comparison
Varying levels of resting HRV and HRV reactivity alongside COVID-19 stress and family adversity
Design
Cohort study
Follow-up
Approximately 4 years
Authors
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Should not yet inform adolescent risk stratification; hypothesis-generating for differential susceptibility to pandemic versus family stressors.
Cohort (n=87)
Does heart rate variability moderate the effect of COVID-19-related stress and family adversity on emotional problems in adolescents?
Miller et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Emotional problems related to COVID-19 stress (n=87). Heart rate variability (HRV) vs. Lower resting HRV or HRV augmentation was evaluated on Emotional problems associated with COVID-19 stress and family adversity. Higher resting HRV or HRV reactivity exacerbated the association between COVID-19 stress and emotional problems in adolescents, while lower resting HRV increased vulnerability to family adversity.