consists of two sub-scales, NA-approach (i.e., âI prefer not to experience either the lows or highs of emotionâ), and NA-aovid (i.e., âI think it's important to explore ...
74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society, Denver, CO
Need for Affect and Heart Rate Variability: A Careful Examination of the Motivation to Approach and Avoid Emotional Experiences Asia Bowman1, DeWayne P. Williams1, Tia Rahman1, Julian Koenig1,2, Julian F. Thayer1 1Department of 2Department
Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
INTRODUCTION The need for affect (NA) can be defined as the motivation to approach, and not avoid, situations and activities that are emotion inducing for oneself and others [1]. Interestingly, resting vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), is widely recognized as a psychophysiological index of emotional regulation capabilities [2]. Recently, we showed a negative association between resting vmHRV and NA in 50 subjects, indicating that lesser avoiding and approaching of emotions were associated with higher resting vmHRV (no relationship between vmHRV and overall NA) [3]. These finding suggest that those who have better emotional and autonomic control regulate emotions as they emerge (neither approach nor avoid).
AIM In the current investigation, we reexamine the association between HRV and NA by controlling for potential confounds in a larger sample.
METHODS & MATERIALS cont.
RESULTS, cont.
Continuous heart rate (HR) data was collected throughout the experiment using an electrocardiogram (ECG). Natural log transformed (ln) high frequency (HF) power autoregressive forum estimates were analyzed in accordance with Task Force guidelines [4], and used used as the index of vmHRV (lnHF-HRV). Participants then completed the 26-item Need for Affect Scale [1]. The Need for Affect scale consists of two sub-scales, NA-approach (i.e., “I prefer not to experience either the lows or highs of emotion”), and NA-aovid (i.e., “I think it’s important to explore my feelings”), which both consist of 13 items. Higher scores reflect lesser avoiding and greater approaching of emotions. Total NA is indexed by total NA-approach being subtracted by total NA-avoid. Trait rumination was indexed using the 22-item Ruminative Responses Scale, and trait anxiety using the 20-item Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale.
RESULTS METHODS & MATERIALS A sample of 82 undergraduate participants (52 female, 56 European Americans, mean age =19.18, SD = 2.06) provided written informed consent and participated in the study.
Table 1. Correlation Matrix of vmHRV and NA 1 1. vmHRV 2. NA-Avoid
While attached to a 3-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), participants completed a baseline-resting period for 5-minutes. Participants were seated and breathing spontaneously.
3
4
---0.219*
3. NA-Approach -0.223* 4. NA Total
2
0.014
Zero-order correlations replicated our previous finding, showing that lower vmHRV is associated with higher NAapproach (p= -.223p < .05) and NA-avoid (p = -.219, p < .05) scores. However, regression results show that after controlling for trait rumination, trait anxiety, body mass index (BMI| kg/m2), gender, ethnicity, age, respiration, vmHRV is negatively correlated with NA-approach (β= -1.924, (.815), r partial =-.272, p=.021 (0.05), but not NA-avoid (β= -.087, (1.107), r partial= -.087, p=.468 (0.05). Table 2. Hierarchical Regression Model for NA Variables NA-Avoid 1 2 Gender -0.189*** -0.171***
3 -0.168
NA-Approach 1 2 3 0.342** 0.373*** 0.400***
NA-Total 1 0.335**
2 0.321**
3 0.328**
BMI Age
-0.016 -0.129
0.028 0.129
-0.029 0.114
-0.146 -0.213
-0.177 -0.227
-0.177 -0.268
-0.074 -0.219
-0.076 -0.213
-0.073 -0.220
Ethnicity
0.190
0.167
0.172
-0.055
-0.127
-0.127
-0.173
-0.185
-0.186
Anxiety
0.224*
0.190
0.105
0.016
-0.105
-0.127
Rumination
0.033*
0.036
0.243
0.271*
0.111
0.120
Respiration
0.059
0.044
-0.019
vmHRV
-0.069
-0.254*
0.087
* p < .05 ** p < .01 *** p
