Evaluative Apprehension Delays Cardiovascular Recovery: Usefulness of Using a Speech Task with Evaluative Observation

Abstract

Delayed cardiovascular recovery is associated with negative emotions and ruminative thoughts. Many studies have used a speech task with evaluative observation to elicit these psychophysiological responses. However, it is unclear if the responses are caused by evaluative apprehension through observation or the emotional load of the speech task. The current study investigated whether evaluative observation accompanied by a speech task was sufficient to delay cardiovascular recovery after having negative emotions and ruminative thoughts. Undergraduates (N=35) were divided into the evaluative observation group that conducted a speech task with evaluative observation and the control group that conducted a speech task without evaluative observation. The evaluative observation group showed prolonged negative emotional responses, increased ruminative thoughts, and delayed recovery of systolic and diastolic blood pressure through the mediation of prolonged cardiac output in the post-task period. These results suggest that evaluative observation plays a critical role in cardiovascular recovery via psychological responses.