Dispositional pessimism is related to reduced respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity to a psychosocial stressor

Hui Zhang; Yixiao Yang; Yunxin Zhao; Yun Luo; Zhao Yao; Kangkang Li

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136425

Dispositional pessimism is related to reduced respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity to a psychosocial stressor

Neurosci Lett. 2022 Feb 6:771:136425. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136425. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Authors

Hui Zhang¹, Yixiao Yang¹, Yunxin Zhao¹, Yun Luo², Zhao Yao³, Kangkang Li⁴

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, China.
² School of Education, Zhaoqing University, China. Electronic address: yun0791@163.com.
³ School of Foreign Studies, Xi'an Jiaotong University, China. Electronic address: yaozhao@xjtu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Foreign Lauguages, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China.

PMID: 34968724
DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136425

Abstract

The associations among dispositional optimism/pessimism, baseline RSA and RSA reactivity were investigated in the current study. Physiological data were collected from 102 young adults during baseline, social stress task (i.e., a public speaking task) and recovery periods in the laboratory. Dispositional optimism and pessimism were assessed using the revised Life Orientation Test. Results showed that higher dispositional pessimism is significantly related to lower levels of RSA reactivity to the social stress task. Finding highlight that individuals with higher levels of pessimism may be at elevated risk for physiological maladjustment.

Keywords: Dispositional optimism; Dispositional pessimism; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Female
Humans
Male
Optimism*
Pessimism*
Psychosocial Functioning*
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia*
Stress, Psychological / psychology*
Young Adult