Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations
Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors
Date of Award
2011
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Psychology/Clinical
First Advisor
William O'Brien
Second Advisor
Robert Carels (Committee Member)
Third Advisor
Casey Cromwell (Committee Member)
Fourth Advisor
William Morrison (Committee Member)
Abstract
Research has generally shown that worry leads to a decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and cardiac vagal activity. Low vagal activity has been associated with a variety of physical ailments, including cardiovascular disease. However, research has also revealed inconsistencies in the relationship between worry and RSA, and the assessment of possible moderating relationships is lacking. The present study investigated the relationships among trait and induced worry on RSA, as well as a number of health behavior moderators, in a sample of undergraduate students. One hundred-fifteen participants completed a pretest measure of worry along with a number of protective health behavior measures. While having their heart rate measured (RSA), participants engaged in a 10-minute baseline condition, a 5-minute worry condition, a 5-minute control condition, and a 10-minute recovery condition. Consistent with predictions, high trait worriers who reported higher levels of physical activity displayed significantly higher levels of RSA, relative to high trait worriers who also reported lower levels of physical activity. Moreover, the same effect was not found for low trait worriers. Possible cardiovascular health implications, as well as implications for effects of physical activity on worry from an afferent perspective, are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Goetz, Paul, "Worry, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Health Behaviors" (2011). Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations. 54.
https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/psychology_diss/54