title: Combinations of resting RSA and RSA reactivity impact maladaptive mood repair and depression symptoms.
abstract: We examined whether the combined indices of respiratory sinus arrhythmia at rest (resting RSA) and in response to a sad film (RSA reactivity) predict effective and ineffective responses to reduce sadness (adaptive vs. maladaptive mood repair) in women with histories of juvenile-onset depression (n=74) and no history of major mental disorders (n=75). Structural equation models were used to estimate latent resting RSA, depression, and adaptive and maladaptive mood repair and to test the study hypotheses. Results indicated that combinations of resting RSA+RSA reactivity (RSA patterns) predicted maladaptive mood repair, which in turn, mediated the effects of RSA pattern on depression. Further, RSA patterns moderated the depressogenic effects of maladaptive mood repair. RSA patterns were unrelated to adaptive mood repair. Our findings suggest that mood repair is one mechanism through which physiological vulnerabilities adversely affect mental health.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Childhood Depression Research Studies, 4415 Fifth Avenue, Webster Hall Suite 134, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. Electronic address: yaroslav@pitt.edu.
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yaroslavsky
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bylsma
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rottenberg
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000209:etiology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012119:Respiration; D012146:Rest; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Depression; Emotion regulation; RSA; Reactivity; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia