The relationship between trait mindfulness and heart rate during stress

Date
2018-04
Authors
Hammond, Brooklyn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Arts, University of Regina
Abstract

Chronic stress can lead to adverse physical and psychological outcomes. Empirical research demonstrates that mindfulness-interventions can serve as an effective stress-management strategy. Furthermore, individuals who are naturally more mindful (i.e., displaying higher trait mindfulness) can attenuate their psychological appraisal of stress, which may influence their physiological response (e.g., heart rate [HR]) to a stressor. The aim of the present study was to examine whether trait mindfulness predicted HR reactivity and recovery to a lab stressor. To achieve this, University of Regina students (n = 110, 78% female, ๐‘€๐‘€๐‘€๐‘€ = 21.5) were recruited via the Psychology Departmentโ€™s Participant Pool. Participants partook in a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Task (TSST; Kirschbaum, Pirke, & Hellhammer, 1993). HR was measured before, during and after the laboratory stressor to assess physiological reactivity and recovery from stress. Participants subsequently completed several questionnaires examining demographic information, depression, and trait mindfulness. A paired samples t-test revealed that HR significantly increased during the TSST, implying the success of the manipulation to induce stress (p < .001). Trait mindfulness was positively correlated with HR reactivity. However, a hierarchical regression test revealed that trait mindfulness did not significantly predict HR recovery to the TSST, over and above demographic and depressive symptomatology scores (p = .135). Nonetheless, studying the moderating effects of trait mindfulness and how it influences cardiovascular functioning remains an important research endeavor. Trait mindfulness can provide insights into the efficacy of mindfulness-interventions ability to reduce stress in at-risk and general populations.

Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology, University of Regina. 28 p.
Keywords
Heart beat--Physiological aspects, Stress (Physiology)--Health aspects, Self-perception, Mindfulness
Citation