Cardiac vagal tone is associated with social engagement and self-regulation

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.02.013

Biological Psychology

Volume 93, Issue 2, May 2013, Pages 279-286

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.02.013 Get rights and content

Abstract

The polyvagal theory (Porges, 2007) represents a biobehavioral model that relates autonomic functioning to self-regulation and social engagement. The aim of the two presented studies was to test the proposed association of cardiac vagal tone (CVT), assessed via resting high-frequency heart rate variability (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA), with coping, emotion-regulation, and social engagement in young adults. In Study 1 (retrospective self-report), RSA was positively associated with engagement coping (situation control, response control, positive self-instructions, social-support seeking) and aspects of social well-being. In Study 2 (ecological momentary assessment), for 28 days following the initial assessment, RSA predicted less use of disengagement strategies (acceptance and avoidance) for regulating negative emotions and more use of socially adaptive emotion-regulation strategies (i.e., social-support seeking as a reaction to sadness and making a concession as a reaction to anger caused by others). Furthermore, RSA was higher in participants who reported no anger episodes compared to those who reported at least one anger episode and was positively associated with reported episodes of negative emotions. Results support the association proposed by the PVT between CVT and self-regulatory behavior, which promotes social bonds.

Highlights

► CVT was positively associated with engagement coping and social well-being. ► Higher CVT predicted less use of disengagement strategies in regulating negative emotions. ► Higher VT predicted more use of socially adaptive emotion-regulation strategies. ► Higher CVT predicted more reported episodes of negative emotions.

Section snippets

The polyvagal theory (PVT)

The PVT (Porges, 2001, Porges, 2007) provides a framework for understanding the relation between vagal regulation of cardiac activity and adaptive functioning. The proposed involvement of the vagus in self-regulation and social engagement is derived from a model of the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system. It is assumed that humans can switch from defensive to social engagement by inhibition of the more primitive neural structures that control fight, flight, or freezing behavior

The present research

The present studies tested the assumption derived from the PVT (Porges, 2001, Porges, 2007) that vagal regulation is related to adaptive self-regulation, which is characterized by social engagement. We conducted two studies that addressed self-regulation at different levels of specificity (i.e., coping and emotion regulation). In Study 1, we examined the relation between CVT and the self-reported habitual use of coping strategies for the regulation of unspecific distress. In Study 2, we focused

Study 1

The first major aim of Study 1 was to test the hypotheses that high CVT would be positively associated with a higher tendency to habitually employ strategies of engagement coping and a lower tendency to use strategies of disengagement coping. Engagement coping is aimed at dealing with the stressor or the resulting distress and involves active attempts to manage the situation or associated reactions. Seeking social support can be seen as a form of engagement coping. Disengagement coping is aimed

Study 2

In line with Study 1, Study 2 tested associations of CVT with variables that reflect adaptive self-regulation and social engagement. The first aim of Study 2 was to test the hypotheses that high CVT would predict a higher tendency to employ engagement strategies for regulating negative emotions, such as cognitive restructuring and problem solving, and a lower tendency to use strategies of disengagement for regulating negative emotions, such as accepting the present situation as it is and

General discussion

Our two studies showed that young adults with higher baseline CVT show more adaptive self-regulation and are more socially engaged than young adults with lower baseline CVT. More precisely, participants with higher CVT reported using engagement strategies when coping with distress and less disengagement when regulating negative emotions. Furthermore, participants with higher CVT were more socially engaged insofar as they reported seeking social support to deal with distress and sadness. Social

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¹: Now at Psychologisches Institut, Universitaet Mainz, Germany.

View full text

Cardiac vagal tone is associated with social engagement and self-regulation

Abstract

Highlights

Section snippets

The polyvagal theory (PVT)

The present research

Study 1

Study 2

General discussion

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Personality and Individual Differences

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine

International Journal of Psychophysiology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

Personality and Individual Differences

Biological Psychology

Anger and Aggression. An Essay on Emotion

Sadness and grief

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

Psychophysiology

Personality and coping

Annual Review of Psychology

Trends in ambulatory self-report: the role of momentary experience in psychosomatic medicine

Psychosomatic Medicine

Relations between personality and coping: a meta-analysis

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Attachment style, current relationship security, and negative emotions: the mediating role of physiological regulation

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Cardiac vagal activity during psychological stress varies with social functioning in older women

Psychophysiology

Regulatory control and adults’ stress-related responses to daily life events

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Ambulatory assessment–Monitoring behavior in daily life settings. A behavioural-scientific challenge for psychology

European Journal of Psychological Assessment

Beat them or ban them: the characteristics and social functions of anger and contempt

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology