Heart Rate and Skin Conductance as Measures of Worrying
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine if heart rate (HR) and skin conductance increase as a result of worrying and if the increase is greater in worriers than in non-worriers. Ten self-labelled worriers and 10 self-labelled non-worriers were individually interviewed, and a worrying event and a pleasant event were determined for each. The HR and skin resistance were then measured for all subjects when they were calm and quiet, when they imagined a worrying event, and when they imagined a pleasant event. There was no difference in the HR and skin conductance of worriers and non-worriers across the three conditions, namely, baseline, imagination of a worrying event and imagination of a pleasant event. Heart rate increased only as a result of worrying whereas the skin conductance increased both due to worrying and due to the imagination of the pleasant event. The results suggest that HR may be used as a measure of worrying.
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Experimental inductions show that worry leads to faster heart rate and higher skin conductance than neutral tasks, relaxation, or baseline levels.
“Specifically, experimental inductions show that worry leads to accelerated heart rate and elevated skin conductance levels”
From A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry (2011) · cites this paper as Dua & King, 1987
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References 10 · Cited by 22
- Authors
- Dua, J. K., & King, D. A.
- Affiliations
- University of New England (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dua, Jagdish K.
- Venue
- Behaviour Change
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1987-09
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 26-32
- ISSN
- 0813-4839 (ISSN-L)
- 2049-7768
- OpenAlex
- W2492948741
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Change (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- heart rate, skin conductance, worry, worry proneness, autonomic arousal, skin resistance
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