The association between perseverative cognition and resting heart rate variability: A focus on state ruminative thoughts

Objective: Two studies were conducted to shed light on the associations between trait and state rumination and worry and a time-domain metric of heart rate variability, the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) of cardiac interbeat-interval (IBI). Method: Study 1 involved 130 healthy adults (118 females; mean age = 23.4 +/- 3.59 years), while 72 healthy participants (58 females; mean age = 22.2 +/- 1.79 years) were involved in Study 2. RMSSD was calculated from a 5-min baseline recording and state ruminative thoughts were assessed during measurement. Trait perseverative cognitions were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Results: In Study 1, we found that a higher level of state but not trait ruminative thoughts showed weak negative association with lnRMSSD. In Study 2, we replicated the results of Study 1 and we found that trait reflection moderated the relationship between state rumination and lnRMSSD. Conclusion: State rumination may reflect actual cardiovascular activity better than trait preservative cognitions, although trait reflection could be a protective factor.