The role of perseverative cognition and heart rate variability in high trait anxiety

Anxiety is increasingly understood as a multidimensional phenomenon, shaped by the interaction of cognitive, emotional, and physiological processes. Dysregulation within these systems is thought to contribute both to the onset and to the persistence of anxious symptoms. Among cognitive factors, worry and rumination have been identified as key vulnerabilities, as they amplify physiological arousal and disrupt autonomic regulation. Heart rate variability (HRV), a robust index of autonomic flexibility, has been consistently linked to emotion regulation, with lower HRV reflecting greater susceptibility to anxiety-related dysfunctions. The present study tested an integrative model of anxiety by examining both cognitive (worry and rumination) and physiological (HRV) markers in a non-clinical sample. Seventy-nine participants (45 female, 34 male) completed standardized self-report measures of worry and rumination and underwent a resting-state HRV assessment. We hypothesized that both cognitive and physiological indices would predict self-reported anxiety, and that their joint consideration would distinguish individuals with high versus low trait anxiety. Results supported these hypotheses: HRV and cognitive vulnerabilities independently, as well as in combination, accounted for variance in anxiety levels. These findings highlight the relevance of a psychophysiological perspective, suggesting that altered coordination between cognitive and autonomic systems may serve as an early marker of anxiety risk, with implications for detection and preventive intervention.