title: Vagally-mediated heart rate variability and indices of well-being: Results of a nationally representative study.
abstract: High frequency (HF) heart rate variability (HRV) has long been accepted as an index of cardiac vagal control. Recent studies report relationships between HF-HRV and indices of positive and negative affect, personality traits and well-being but these studies generally are based on small and selective samples.
  
  
  
  These relationships were examined using data from 967 participants in the second Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS II) study. Participants completed survey questionnaires on well-being and affect. HF-HRV was measured at rest. A hierarchical series of regression analyses examined relationships between these various indices and HF-HRV before and after adjustment for relevant demographic and biomedical factors.
  
  
  
  Significant inverse relationships were found only between indices of negative affect and HF-HRV. Relationships between indices of psychological and hedonic well-being and positive affect failed to reach significance.
  
  
  
  These findings raise questions about relationships between cardiac parasympathetic modulation, emotion regulation, and indices of well-being. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine.
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Sloan
authors: Department of Psychology, Barnard College.
authors: Emilie
authors: E
authors: Schwarz
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine.
authors: Paula S
authors: PS
authors: McKinley
authors: Center for Population and Health, Georgetown University.
authors: Maxine
authors: M
authors: Weinstein
authors: Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors: Gayle
authors: G
authors: Love
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Ryff
authors: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Mroczek
authors: New York State Psychiatric Institute.
authors: Tse-Hwei
authors: TH
authors: Choo
authors: New York State Psychiatric Institute.
authors: Seonjoo
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Geriatrics, University of California at Los Angeles.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Seeman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000639:trends; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*