Greater perceived stressor severity and affective reactivity to daily stressors were associated with lower resting heart rate variability indices, including SDRR (B=-0.05, SE=0.02).
Cross-Sectional (n=909)
Yes
Are trait-like patterns of stress in daily life associated with laboratory-assessed heart rate variability in midlife and older adults?
Individual differences in daily negative affect and responses to daily stressors are more strongly related to cardiovascular autonomic regulation than the mere frequency of such stressors.
Effect estimate: B = -0.05 (SE 0.02) for SDRR
OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the associations between people's trait-like patterns of stress in daily life (stressor frequency, perceived stressor severity, affective reactivity to stressors, and negative affect) and laboratory-assessed heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Data were collected from 909 participants aged 35 to 85 years in the Midlife in the United States Study. Participants reported negative affect and minor stressful events during telephone interviews on 8 consecutive evenings. On a separate occasion, HRV was measured from electrocardiograph recordings taken at rest during a laboratory-based psychophysiology protocol. Regression models were used to evaluate the associations between daily stress processes and three log-transformed HRV indices: standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDRR), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and high-frequency power (high-frequency HRV HF-HRV). Analyses were adjusted for demographics, body mass index, comorbid conditions, medications, physical activity, and smoking. RESULTS: Stressor frequency was unrelated to HRV (r values ranging from -0. 04 to -0. 01, p values >. 20). However, people with greater perceived stressor severity had lower resting SDRR (fully adjusted B standard error SE = -0. 05 0. 02), RMSSD (-0. 08 0. 03), and HF-HRV (-0. 16 0. 07). Individuals with more pronounced affective reactivity to stressors also had lower levels of all three HRV indices (SDRR: B SE = -0. 28 0. 14; RMSSD: -0. 44 0. 19; HF-HRV: -0. 96 0. 37). Furthermore, aggregated daily negative affect was linked to reduced RMSSD (B SE = -0. 16 0. 08) and HF-HRV (-0. 35 0. 15). CONCLUSIONS: In a national sample, individual differences in daily negative affect and responses to daily stressors were more strongly related to cardiovascular autonomic regulation than the frequency of such stressors.
Sin et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in General population (Midlife and older adults) (n=909). Daily stress processes (perceived severity, affective reactivity, negative affect) vs. Lower levels of daily stress processes was evaluated on Laboratory-assessed heart rate variability (SDRR, RMSSD, and HF-HRV) (B = -0.05 (SE 0.02) for SDRR). Greater perceived stressor severity and affective reactivity to daily stressors were associated with lower resting heart rate variability indices, including SDRR (B=-0.05, SE=0.02).