Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) and personality are related to both physical and mental health outcomes. Previous research has found a relationship between neuroticism and distress while the findings on the relationship between neuroticism and HRV are mixed. Studying the facets of neuroticism may provide a more nuanced view of the effects of personality on HRV and distress. Previous research has suggested that the vulnerability facet of neuroticism appears to be uniquely related to the cardiovascular response to stress. This study's first hypothesis is that individuals with higher scores on the vulnerability facet will have lower heart rate variability. The second hypothesis is that individuals with higher vulnerability facet scores will report higher levels of distress. Using SEM, this study evaluated the measurement model of the facets of neuroticism as well as the structural relationships between these facets and HRV as well as psychological distress. Our study's sample consisted of 374 college students, the majority of whom were young adults. The SEM results indicated that there was no significant relationship between vulnerability and HRV or psychological distress. The lack of a significant association among any of the facets of neuroticism with HRV in this study further supports the notion that the non-significant relationship between neuroticism and HRV extends even when examining neuroticism at the facet level.

Degree

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Psychology

Rights

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