Impact of State Anxiety, Mindfulness on Cardiac Autonomic Variables in Healthy Adults: A Correlational Study

Abstract

The interest about mindfulness has been increased in the last decades. The epidemiological studies shows a hike from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases indicating that the adults are more prone for anxiety related, mindfulness related and autonomic variables like heart rate, heart rate variability and related issues. State anxiety is a topic of discussion among all age groups and the way it reflects on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system is also eye catchy in the field of psycho physiological research. This study tired to understand the impact of state anxiety and mindfulness on cardiac autonomic regulation on heart rate variability. Eighty three subjects were assessed using state anxiety and mindfulness questionnaire and heart rate variability measurement in Biopac equipment. The result showed a negative correlation between mindfulness and state anxiety (r= -.942, P<0.001). State anxiety increases sympathetic activity (P<0.05) and decreases parasympathetic activity of Autonomic Nervous System (P<0.05). Whereas, mindfulness increases parasympathetic activity (P<0.05) and decreases sympathetic tone (P<0.05). The study could bring up the importance of improving the mindfulness, bringing down the anxiety, and there by balancing cardiac nerves of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Keywords: Mindfulness; State anxiety; Heart rate variability; Cardiac Autonomic Regulation Abbreviations: SMAAS: State Mindful Attention Awareness Scale; STAI: State Anxiety Inventory; HRV: Heart Rate Variability; LF: Low Frequency; HF: High Frequency; ANS: Autonomic Nervous System