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Speech rate, loudness, and cardiovascular reactivity.
A W Siegman1, T M Dembroski, D Crump
1University of Maryland Baltimore County, Catonsville 21228.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Reducing speech rate and loudness significantly lowers cardiovascular reactivity (CVR). Training individuals to speak slowly and softly may be an effective strategy for managing CVR, especially without emotional arousal.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cardiology
- Speech Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) is influenced by various physiological and behavioral factors.
- The impact of speech characteristics like rate and loudness on CVR requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between speech rate, loudness, and cardiovascular reactivity.
- To determine the effects of manipulating speech rate and loudness on CVR in different contexts.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted: one with separate manipulation of speech rate and loudness during reading, and another with simultaneous manipulation during an interview.
- Cardiovascular reactivity was assessed in response to altered speech parameters.
Main Results:
- A reduction in speech rate and/or loudness was consistently associated with a significant decrease in CVR.
- Increasing speech rate and/or loudness showed minimal to no effect on CVR.
Conclusions:
- Speech rate and loudness alone, without emotional arousal (e.g., anger), do not appear to induce significant cardiovascular hyperreactivity.
- Training individuals to adopt slower and softer speech patterns may serve as a viable method for controlling cardiovascular hyperreactivity.