Higher perceived parental support was associated with higher resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in young adults (N=154), whereas friend support and stress-buffering models showed no association.
Cross-Sectional (n=154)
Does perceived parental and friend support relate to resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in young adults?
Higher perceived parental support is associated with higher resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activity, in young adults.
Although social support is related to better health, research is mixed regarding how social support relates to physiological systems including the parasympathetic nervous system. The present study assessed whether perceived parental and friend support were related to resting parasympathetic nervous system activity among young adults, and whether associations differed by stress. Young adults (N = 154; Mage = 20.5, SD = 3.0; 73.4% female) reported their perceived support from their parents and friends. Electrocardiogram data were collected while participants watched a 4-minute nature video to estimate resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia, an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system activity. Linear regression models indicated that young adults with higher perceived parental support tended to have higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia as hypothesized, but findings did not support associations for friend support or for stress-buffering models. Results suggested that aspects parenting may relate to long-term health through perceived support, in line with past evidence of the health benefits of family-based interventions.
Danny Rahal (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young adults (n=154). Perceived parental and friend support vs. Lower perceived support was evaluated on Resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Higher perceived parental support was associated with higher resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia in young adults (N=154), whereas friend support and stress-buffering models showed no association.