Early life adversity blunts the subjective and physiological relaxation response in healthy adults.
Raphaela J Gaertner, Manuel Burkart, Louisa Richter, Pius Schnell, Matthias Finkh��user, Elea S C Klink, Bernadette F Denk, Maria Meier, Ulrike U Bentele, Stella Wienhold, Katharina E Kossmann, Jens C Pruessner
Author Information
Raphaela J Gaertner: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany. raphaela.gaertner@uni-konstanz.de.
Manuel Burkart: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Louisa Richter: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Pius Schnell: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Matthias Finkh��user: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Elea S C Klink: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Bernadette F Denk: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Maria Meier: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Ulrike U Bentele: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Stella Wienhold: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Katharina E Kossmann: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
Jens C Pruessner: Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Fach 905, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78464, Constance, Germany.
While Early Live Adversity (ELA) is a known risk factor for mental and physical diseases, the investigation into the mechanisms behind this connection is ongoing. In the present study, we investigated whether ELA blunts the relaxation response in healthy adults. Using a within-subjects design, we employed a paced breathing exercise (four seconds inhale, six seconds exhale) and a 360�� nature video as relaxation interventions while measuring physiological relaxation using heart rate variability and subjective relaxation using the Relaxation State Questionnaire. A total of 103 participants (63.11% female; age���=���22.73��������3.43 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess ELA retrospectively. For subjective relaxation, a blunted relaxation reaction was associated with lower scores of paternal care and higher scores of paternal overprotection, physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse. For heart rate variability emotional abuse in interaction with nicotine consumption was related to a blunted relaxation response. This indicates that experiencing ELA negatively affects the relaxation capability in a healthy sample and emphasizes the importance of assessing relaxation at a physiological and subjective level.
