title: Heart rate variability and self-control--A meta-analysis.
abstract: Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested as a biological correlate of self-control. Whereas many studies found a relationship between HRV at rest and self-control, effect sizes vary substantially across studies in magnitude and direction. This meta-analysis evaluated the association between HRV at rest and self-control in laboratory tasks, with a particular focus on the identification of moderating factors (task characteristics, methodological aspects of HRV assessment, demographics). Overall, 24 articles with 26 studies and 132 effects (n=2317, mean age=22.44, range 18.4-57.8) were integrated (random effects model with robust variance estimation). We found a positive average effect of r=0.15, 95% CI [0.088; 0.221], p<0.001 with a moderate heterogeneity (I(2)=56.10%), but observed evidence of publication bias. Meta-regressions did not reveal significant moderators. Due to the presence of potential publication bias, our results have to be interpreted cautiously.
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: zahn@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany; University Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Institute for Teachers' Health, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Kupferbergterrasse 17-19, D-55116 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Personality Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krohn
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Lara K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Gomille
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jacobi-Scherbening
authors.affiliation: Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Health Psychology, Binger Str. 14-16, D-55122 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubiak
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011603:Psychophysiology; D000068356:Self-Control / Q000523:psychology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Executive functions; Heart rate variability; Meta-analysis; Self-control