1. INTRODUCTION MEASURES RESULTS HYPOTHESES CONCLUSIONS RESULTS
Positive Psychology Traits Lead to Decreased Worry and Better Cardiac Function
Chase A. Klingshirn, Chad R. Gentry, Zachary M. Shankle & Michael M. Knepp
University of Mount Union
INTRODUCTION
MEASURES
RESULTS
Previous research has explored the relationship between optimism and physical activity, with cardiovascular health, depression and anxiety.
Positive measures can influence the amount of stress and worry one experiences as well as the individual’s cardiovascular health.
One variable that might influence the cardiovascular outcome is the intersection of levels of optimism and physical activity.
This study aimed to explore how positive measures (optimism, resilience, etc.) effect worry, heart rate, and heart rate variability.
Questionnaires:
Penn State Worry Questionnaire
16 item scale examining trait worry
Self-Related Growth Scale
15 item scale about change due to the most stressful situation over the past 12 months
Life Orientation Test-Revised
10 item scale examining positive and negative thinking
General Self-Efficacy Scale
10 item scale was used to assess perception of self-efficacy along with considered hassles.
Optimism-Pessimism Prescreening Questionnaire
9 item scale with questions worded toward both optimism and pessimism.
Positive Moods Measure
6 item scale examining 6 distinct positive moods over the last 30 days.
Dispositional Resilience Scale
45 item scale covering overall resilience with three subscales dedicated to commitment., challenge, and control.
Methods
Cardiovascular Recording Period had three phases
Baseline Recording
Serial Subtraction Task
Guided Relaxation Period
Psychological
In women, higher scores on the Life Orientation Test-Revised resulted in lower self-reported worry scores (R2 = .178, F (1, 72) = 15.59, p < .001).
In men, increased resilience scores resulted in decreased worry (R2 = .120, F (1, 40) = 5.46, p < .05).
Physiological
Increased worry scores were related with increased heart rate (F (1, 111) = 4.21, p < .05).
Students with lower scores on the life orientation test-revised had higher heart rates in this study (F (1, 111) = 11.1, p < .005). Unexpectedly, but higher self-related growth following a stressful event also predicted higher heart rates (F (1, 111) = 5.98, p < .02).
Increased control on the dispositional resilience questionnaire related to increased heart rate variability as measured through higher rMSSD (F (1, 111) = 4.02, p < .05) and high frequency power (F (1, 111) = 4.50, p < .05).
HYPOTHESES
H1: The positive psychology measures (optimism, self-related growth, satisfaction with life, self-efficacy, resilience, and positive moods) would result in decreased worry in both men and women.
H2: Higher worry scores would result in increased heart rate and decreased heart rate variability.
H3: Positive psychology traits would result in lower heart rates and increased heart rate variability while acting as a buffer against stress reactivity.
CONCLUSIONS
RESULTS
Higher worry scores predicted increased heart rate
Higher scores of optimism led to significantly lower worry scores.
Increased scores of resilience (particularly the challenge subscale) resulted in decreased worry
Pavey et al. (2015) was potentially supported, finding that lack of optimism and physical activity can lead to increases of anxiety and depression which can lead to increased heart rate and less heart variability.
PARTICIPANTS
One hundred sixteen students at a small Midwestern University
Predominately women (63.8%) ages ranged from 18 to 23 (M=19.07, SD=1.47)
Higher LOT-R Scores Predicted Decreased Worry
Correspondence to:
Presented at the 29th Association for Psychological Science Conference, Boston, MA, May 25-28