Early life adversity blunts the subjective and physiological relaxation response in healthy adults
Author: Raphaela J Gaertner1, Manuel Burkart2, Louisa Richter2, Pius Schnell2, Matthias Finkhäuser2, Elea S C Klink2, Bernadette F Denk2,3, Maria Meier2,4, Ulrike U Bentele2, Stella Wienhold2, Katharina E Kossmann2, Jens C Pruessner2,3
Affiliation:
1 Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany. raphaela.gaertner@uni-konstanz.de.
2 Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
3 Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.
4 Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Conference/Journal: Sci Rep
Date published: 2024 Nov 14
Other:
Volume ID: 14 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 27992 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-78340-3. , Word Count: 193
While Early Live Adversity (ELA) is a known risk factor for mental and physical diseases, the investigation into the mechanisms behind this connection is ongoing. In the present study, we investigated whether ELA blunts the relaxation response in healthy adults. Using a within-subjects design, we employed a paced breathing exercise (four seconds inhale, six seconds exhale) and a 360° nature video as relaxation interventions while measuring physiological relaxation using heart rate variability and subjective relaxation using the Relaxation State Questionnaire. A total of 103 participants (63.11% female; agemean = 22.73 ± 3.43 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess ELA retrospectively. For subjective relaxation, a blunted relaxation reaction was associated with lower scores of paternal care and higher scores of paternal overprotection, physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse. For heart rate variability emotional abuse in interaction with nicotine consumption was related to a blunted relaxation response. This indicates that experiencing ELA negatively affects the relaxation capability in a healthy sample and emphasizes the importance of assessing relaxation at a physiological and subjective level.
Keywords: Early life adversity; Heart rate variability; Paced breathing; Relaxation; Virtual nature.
PMID: 39543303 PMCID: PMC11564747 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78340-3
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