Author: Martha Schneider1, Michele M Kraemmer2, Bernhard Weber2, Andreas R Schwerdtfeger2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: martha.schneider@uni-graz.at.
<sup>2</sup> Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Conference/Journal: Biol Psychol
Date published: 2021 May 12
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108116. , Word Count: 164
The current study examined whether the exposure to life events and reported impact of life events are associated with altered cardiac reactivity to an acute psychological stressor. Participants (N = 69) completed the Life Experience Survey (LES) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and undertook a standardized social-evaluative stress task. Cardiac activity was measured via heart rate and non-linear heart rate variability (HRV) indices Sample Entropy, SD1, SD2 and SD1/SD2 ratio. Heart rate and non-linear HRV were measured before, during and after stress exposure. Findings suggest higher heart rate reactivity in individuals reporting higher number and impact of negative and total life events. Decreases in Sample Entropy were evident for number as well as impact of life events. No associations were found for SD1, SD2 and SD1/SD2 ratio. Findings suggest that life-events are associated with elevated heart rate and diminished heart rate complexity in response to acute stress.
Keywords: Cardiovascular reactivity; Life events; Mental stress; Non-linear HRV; Sample entropy.
PMID: 33991593 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108116