Respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity predicts emotion regulation and depressive symptoms in at-risk and control children

Abstract. Depression is a pervasive psychiatric problem following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, the onset and course of symptom expression following mTBI can differ from that of spontaneous episodes of depression. Here, we aimed to assess a physiological metric closely linked to depression: respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a measure of high frequency heart rate variability. RSA is reduced during depressive episodes, and higher resting RSA has been shown to predict future recovery from depression. In this study, we investigated if these patterns were observed throughout the typical timeframe of sub-acute mTBI recovery. Although RSA did not differ between mTBI ( n = 50) and control ( n = 27) groups, depressive symptoms were reliably correlated with RSA only in the mTBI group. This pattern was consistent 2 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months post-injury. Furthermore, resting RSA shortly following injury predicted the trajectory of depressive symptoms 2 months later. These findings generalize the connection between RSA and depression to a clinical population where depressive symptoms are common but often difficult to parse from other post-trauma consequences.

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Emotion dysregulation, temperamental vulnerability, and parental depression in adolescents: Correspondence between physiological and informant-report measures

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579419000567 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 1023-1035 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marie-Lotte Van Beveren ◽

Sven C. Mueller ◽

Caroline Braet

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Emotion Dysregulation ◽

Parent Report ◽

Self Report ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Parental Depressive Symptoms ◽

Emotional Responding ◽

Adolescents And Adults ◽

Regulation Strategies

AbstractAlthough numerous studies reveal altered respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) among children, adolescents, and adults who exhibit emotion dysregulation, effects of temperamental vulnerability and parental mental health on RSA remain unclear. We evaluated the relationship among emotion regulation, RSA, and RSA reactivity in a pooled sample of 24 vulnerable and 31 resilient adolescents (mean age = 13.69 years; 60% girls), including associations with temperamental vulnerability and parental depressive symptoms. Participants watched a neutral film clip while their resting RSA was recorded, and then completed a reward and frustration task, using an affective Posner paradigm. Temperament and emotion regulation were assessed via self-report and parent report, and parents reported on their own depressive symptoms. Low resting RSA was associated with temperamental negative emotionality, whereas greater RSA reactivity to frustration was associated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. No significant relations were found between RSA and parental depressive symptoms. This study elucidates the role of RSA as a biomarker of individual differences in emotion dysregulation and temperamental vulnerability and stresses the importance of considering multiple units of analyses, as well as functional domains, when studying emotional responding and regulation in adolescents.

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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, emotion, and emotion regulation during social interaction

Psychophysiology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-8986.2006.00467.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 43 (6) ◽

pp. 612-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 286

Author(s):

Emily A. Butler ◽

Frank H. Wilhelm ◽

James J. Gross

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia

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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and adaptive emotion regulation as predictors of nonsuicidal self-injury in young adults

International Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2018.09.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 133 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew R. Fox ◽

Lauren E. Hammond ◽

Amy H. Mezulis

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Self Injury ◽

Nonsuicidal Self Injury

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Does Coloring Reduce Anxiety? Comparing the Psychological and Psychophysiological Benefits of Coloring Versus Drawing

Empirical Studies of the Arts ◽

10.1177/0276237420923290 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 027623742092329

Author(s):

Nicole Turturro ◽

Jennifer E. Drake

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Skin Conductance ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Testing Session ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Negative Thoughts ◽

Before And After ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategy ◽

Anxiety Induction

In this study, we compared the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring to drawing as a means of distraction versus expression. Participants were 60 undergraduates who experienced an anxiety induction. We then randomly assigned them to color a design, draw a design (distract), or draw to express their negative thoughts and feelings. Anxiety was measured before and after the anxiety induction and after drawing. Heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and skin conductance were measured throughout the testing session. Finally, participants completed a flow and enjoyment questionnaire. All three activities reduced anxiety and decreased heart rate and increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia with no differences across conditions. Those in the draw a design condition enjoyed the activity more than those in the draw to express condition. We conclude that drawing, regardless of emotion regulation strategy used, reduces anxiety but that distracting graphic activities result in more enjoyment.

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