Self-Reported Sleep Is Not Associated With Cardiovascular and Baroreflex Responses to Mental Stress

Previous research has produced mixed results regarding the relationship between sleep and cardiovascular reactivity to acute mental stress. This study aimed to re-analyze this relationship as well as test the relationship between sleep and stress-related changes in baroreflex function in order to further clarify the relationship between sleep and stress reactivity. Participants (N = 127, 84 female, mean age = 20.64, 78 White) completed a mental arithmetic stress task, while measures of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and baroreflex function were undertaken. Participants self-reported sleep duration, timing, efficiency, quality, latency, and wake after sleep onset the night prior to testing. Mental stress caused significant increases in HR and BP and significant decreases in baroreflex sensitivity and effectiveness (all p < 0.001). However, no statistically significant relationships were found between any measures of sleep and HR or BP reactivity (all p ≥ 0.05). Similarly, stress-induced changes in baroreflex function were not associated with any measures of sleep (all p ≥ 0.05). Results suggest that self-reported sleep is not related to cardiovascular or baroreflex reactivity to acute mental stress.