Research
Scientific publications on the impact of positive emotions
Positive emotions were found to help resilient people to
- disrupt the experience of stress
- recover efficiently from daily stress
- construct psychological resources that are necessary for coping successfully with significant catastrophe.
- notice positive meanings within the problems they faced (e.g.: felt grateful to be alive), after terrorism attacks.
- are active elements within resilience
- are critical elements in resilience
- influence resilient people’s responses to adversity
Studies by Fredrickson et al., 2003; Tugade et al., 2004; Ong et al., 2006; Bonanno et al., 2007
Heart rate variability, emotion and health
Framingham Study:
- low HRV is a strong indicator for mortality
- HRV is strongly cardio-protective
- HRV is a good prognostic indicator for coronary heart disease and myocardial infarcation
- Depressive symptoms increase the risk of cornary heart disease and stroke
- Anxiety increases the risk of ventricular arrhythmia
The Framingham Study follows the health of the original 1948 cohort and two subsequent generations in Framingham, Massachusetts.
HRV, resilience and performance
Hansen, A., Johnsen, B., & Thayer, J. (2008).
Relationship between heart rate variability and cognitive function during threat of shock.
Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 9, 1-12.
Segerstrom, S. & Nes, L. (2007).
Heart rate variability reflects self-regulatory strength, effort, and fatigue.
Psychological Science, 18, (3), 275-281.
Morgan, C., Aikins, D., Steffian, G., Coric, V., & Southwick, S. (2007).
Relation between cardiac vagal tone and performance in male military personnel exposed to high stress: Three prospective studies.
Psychophysiology, 44, 120-127.
Brain- Heart communication, HRV Training and self-management
Lacey, J. I., & Lacey, B. C. (1978).
Two-way communication between the heart and the brain:
Significance of time within the cardiac cycle.
American Psychologist, 33(2), 99-113.
McCraty, R., Barrios-Choplin, B., Rozman, D., Atkinson,M., & Watkins, A. (1998).
The impact of a new emotional self-management program
on stress, emotions, heart rate variability, DHEA, and cortisol.
Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Sciences,
33, (2), 151-170.
