Individual Differences in Emotion Regulation and Cardiovascular Responding to Stress

Abstract

Instructed use of reappraisal to regulate stress in the laboratory is typically associated with a more adaptive cardiovascular response to stress, indexed by either: (i) lower cardiovascular reactivity (CVR; e.g., lower blood pressure); or (ii) a challenge-oriented response profile (i.e., greater cardiac output paired with lower total peripheral resistance). In contrast, instructed use of suppression is associated with exaggerated CVR (e.g., greater heart rate, blood pressure). Despite this, few studies have examined if the habitual use of these strategies are related to cardiovascular responding during stress. The current study examined the relationship between cardiovascular responses to acute stress and individual differences in emotion regulation style: trait reappraisal, suppression, and emotion regulation difficulties. Forty-eight participants (25 women, 23 men) completed a standardised laboratory stress paradigm incorporating a 20-minute acclimatization period, a 10-minute baseline, and two 5-minute speech tasks separated by a 10-minute inter-task rest period. The emotional valence of the speech task was examined as a potential moderating factor; participants spoke about a block of negative-emotion words and a block of neutral-emotion words. Cardiovascular parameters were measured using the Finometer Pro. Greater habitual use of suppression was associated with exaggerated blood pressure responding to both tasks. However, only in response to the negative-emotion task was greater use of reappraisal associated with a challenge-oriented cardiovascular response. The findings suggest that individual differences in emotion regulation translate to differing patterns of CVR to stress, but the emotional valence of the stressor may play a role.

Studi Kasus: Dinamika Gangguan Psikologis dan Fisik Yang Dialami Pria Pengurus Desa Adat Bali

“…Suppression didefinisikan sebagai upaya untuk menyembunyikan perasaan (penekanan ekspresif) (Gross, 2007). Suppression memiliki keterkaitan dengan reaksi kardiovaskuler yang berlebihan seperti misalnya terjadi peningkatan detak jantung dan tekanan darah (Griffin, S. M., & Howard, S., 2021). Feeney, dooley, Finucane & Kenny 2015 (Taylor, 2018) menyatakan bahwa tingginya stressful life events, konflik sosial yang kronis, tekanan pekerjaan, ketegangan pekerjaan, kombinasi antara tuntutan tinggi dengan sedikit kontrol dan kesesakan, stres tinggi, dan tempat yang bising semuanya menghasilkan tingkat hipertensi yang lebih tinggi.…”