Associations Between Positive Affect and Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychophysiology
• Cardiovascular Regulation
• Affective Science

Background:

• The interplay between positive affect (PA) and heart rate variability (HRV) is crucial for understanding emotion regulation and cardiovascular health.
• Existing literature suggests a link between PA and HRV, but findings are not always consistent.
• This review addresses the need for a synthesized understanding of this relationship across various contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize current research on the association between positive affect (PA) and heart rate variability (HRV).
• To examine this relationship across different contexts, including resting-state, stress reactivity, and recovery.
• To consider variations in how PA is conceptualized and measured.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies.
• Included studies spanned experimental, ambulatory, cross-sectional, and mixed designs.
• Data from 36 studies involving 5501 participants were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Elevated PA was most frequently associated with higher vagally mediated HRV (RMSSD, HF power), but context-dependent.
• Resting-state and trait-like PA measures showed the most consistent positive associations with HRV.
• In stress paradigms, effects varied by stress phase and PA arousal; RMSSD was a consistent index. In real-life, aggregated PA linked to higher RMSSD, momentary PA to lower RMSSD.
• Findings for other HRV metrics (LF/HF, LF-HRV, SDNN) were mixed.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between PA and cardiac autonomic regulation is complex and context-dependent.
• Future research requires greater methodological consistency to clarify the temporal dynamics of the PA-HRV association.
• Understanding this relationship has implications for emotion regulation strategies and cardiovascular health interventions.