Due to its ability to reflect the capacity to engage in context-appropriate responses, tonic heart rate variability (HRV) is considered a putative biomarker of stress resilience. However, most studies are cross-sectional, precluding causal inferences. The high levels of uncertainty and fear at a global level that characterize the COVID-19 pandemic offer a unique opportunity to investigate the longitudinal role of HRV in stress resilience. The present study examined whether HRV, measured about 2 years earlier (Time 0), could predict emotion regulation strategies and daily affect in healthy adults during the May 2020 lockdown (Time 1). Moreover, we evaluated the association between HRV measures, emotion regulation strategies, subjective perception of COVID-19 risk, and self-reported depressive symptoms at Time 1. Higher tonic HRV at Time 0 resulted a significant predictor of a stronger engagement in more functional emotion regulation strategies, as well as of higher daily feelings of safeness and reduced daily worry at Time 1. Moreover, depressive symptoms negatively correlated with HRV and positively correlated with the subjective perception of COVID-19 risk at Time 1. Current data support the view that HRV might be not only a marker but also a precursor of resilience under stressful times.

中文翻译：

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在我心中安全：静息心率变异性纵向预测 COVID-19 锁定期间的情绪调节、担忧和安全感

由于其能够反映参与情境适当反应的能力，强直心率变异性 (HRV) 被认为是压力恢复力的假定生物标志物。然而，大多数研究是横断面的，排除了因果推断。COVID-19 大流行在全球范围内的高度不确定性和恐惧为研究 HRV 在压力恢复中的纵向作用提供了独特的机会。本研究检查了大约 2 年前（时间 0）测量的 HRV 是否可以预测 2020 年 5 月锁定期间（时间 1）健康成年人的情绪调节策略和日常影响。此外，我们在时间 1 评估了 HRV 测量、情绪调节策略、对 COVID-19 风险的主观感知和自我报告的抑郁症状之间的关联。