Cardiac vagal control in response to acute stress during pregnancy: Associations with life stress and emotional support

• Published in: Psychophysiology 2021-06, Vol.58 (6), p.e13808-n/a
• Main Authors: Tung, Irene, Krafty, Robert T., Delcourt, Meaghan L., Melhem, Nadine M., Jennings, J. Richard, Keenan, Kate, Hipwell, Alison E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; cardiac vagal control; ECG; Electrocardiography; emotional support; Emotions; Ethnicity - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gestational age; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; heart rate variability; HRV; Humans; life stress; Neuropsychological Tests - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; prenatal stress; RMSSD; Social interactions; Social support; Social Support - psychology; Stress response; Stress, Physiological - physiology; Trier Social Stress Test; Vagus nerve; Vagus Nerve - physiology; Womens health
• ISSN: 0048-5772; 1469-8986; 1540-5958
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13808

Life stressors during pregnancy can disrupt maternal stress regulation and negatively impact offspring health. Despite the important role of cardiac vagal control (e.g., heart rate variability; HRV) in stress regulation, few studies have investigated how life stressors and emotional support influence vagal control during pregnancy. This study aimed to (a) characterize patterns of cardiac vagal control in response to a stressor administered in pregnancy, and (b) examine the effects of life stress and emotional support on vagal control during rest, reactivity, and recovery. Participants included 191 pregnant women (79% Black; 21% White) living in an urban U.S. city (73% receiving public assistance). Heart rate (HR) and HRV (indexed by RMSSD) were recorded continually during the preparation, task, and recovery periods of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Participants reported recent life stressors (e.g., relationship problems, financial hardship) and emotional support. Piecewise growth curve modeling was used to model rates of reactivity and recovery, adjusting for gestational age at time of assessment and recent health problems. Life stress predicted greater HR and HRV reactivity to the TSST as well as greater HRV recovery (vagal rebound). However, associations were only evident for women reporting high emotional support. Results suggest that pregnant women living with frequent life stressors may exhibit more rapid autonomic responses to acute stress, including more rapid vagal rebound after stressors, potentially reflecting physiological adaptation to anticipated high‐stress environments; emotional support may enhance these responses. Studies are needed to investigate long‐term health outcomes related to this stress response pattern. Impact Statement Few studies have investigated how life stress influences cardiac vagal control during pregnancy. Our findings suggest that pregnant women living with frequent life stressors may exhibit more rapid vagal reactivity and recovery from acute stress, a pattern consistent with greater ‘vagal flexibility’. However, associations were only evident for women reporting high emotional support. Emotional support may play a critical role in facilitating adaptive responses to stress during pregnancy, particularly among women experiencing frequent life stressors.