6533b7d5fe1ef96bd12649a4

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Heart rate variability and self-control—A meta-analysis

Daniela ZahnJeanette KrohnThomas KubiakMario WenzelVera Jacobi-scherbeningJohanna AdamsCaroline MannLara K. Gomille

subject

Demographicsmedia_common.quotation_subjectStatistics as TopicModels Psychological050105 experimental psychologySelf-ControlElectrocardiography03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineHeart RateStatisticsVariance estimationHumansMedicineHeart rate variability0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesmedia_commonbusiness.industryGeneral Neuroscience05 social sciencesSignal Processing Computer-AssistedMean agePublication biasSelf-controlRandom effects modelNeuropsychology and Physiological PsychologyMeta-analysisFemaleArousalbusiness030217 neurology & neurosurgeryPsychophysiology

description

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested as a biological correlate of self-control. Whereas many studies found a relationship between HRV at rest and self-control, effect sizes vary substantially across studies in magnitude and direction. This meta-analysis evaluated the association between HRV at rest and self-control in laboratory tasks, with a particular focus on the identification of moderating factors (task characteristics, methodological aspects of HRV assessment, demographics). Overall, 24 articles with 26 studies and 132 effects (n=2317, mean age=22.44, range 18.4-57.8) were integrated (random effects model with robust variance estimation). We found a positive average effect of r=0.15, 95% CI [0.088; 0.221], p<0.001 with a moderate heterogeneity (I(2)=56.10%), but observed evidence of publication bias. Meta-regressions did not reveal significant moderators. Due to the presence of potential publication bias, our results have to be interpreted cautiously.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-01-04Biological Psychology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.12.007