Associations of Emotion Regulation Difficulties with Cardiac Autonomic Balance and Regulation

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Autonomic Nervous System

Background:

• Emotion regulation is crucial for psychological well-being and cardiovascular health.
• Cardiac autonomic balance (CAB) and cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR) reflect autonomic nervous system activity.
• The relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and autonomic function is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and cardiac autonomic balance (CAB) and cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR).

Main Methods:

• 151 participants completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale.
• Resting CAB and CAR were measured.
• Correlations and covariate-adjusted analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Higher overall emotion regulation difficulties were linked with lower CAB and CAR.
• After adjustments, this association persisted only for CAR.
• Specific difficulties, such as impulse control and emotional clarity, were uniquely associated with CAR and CAB, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Emotion regulation difficulties are associated with reduced total autonomic activity (CAR), but not necessarily autonomic balance (CAB).
• Distinct facets of emotion regulation difficulties relate to specific autonomic nervous system dynamics.
• Findings offer nuanced, clinically relevant insights into emotion regulation and physiological health.