Psychological distress among college students: The moderating role of heart rate variability in the relationship with maladaptive metacognitions

Background

Psychological distress among college students is becoming a matter of significant clinical concern. Despite metacognitive beliefs and resting heart rate variability (HRV) are both associated with risk of mood disorders, whether in presence of maladaptive cognitive beliefs, resting HRV can be considered a protective factor for psychological distress in college students has yet to be investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the relationship between maladaptive metacognitions (i.e., positive beliefs about worry; concerns about uncontrollability and danger; lack of cognitive confidence; beliefs about the need to control thoughts; cognitive self-consciousness) and psychological distress among college students, and the possible moderating effects of resting HRV.

Methods

Forty college students reporting negative history of neurological/psychiatric diseases and no use of drugs/substances of abuse were recruited at the University of Padova, Italy. Psychological distress and maladaptive metacognitions were assessed using the Depression Anxiety-Stress Scales 21 and the Metacognitions Questionnaire 30, respectively. Moreover, the electrocardiogram was recorded at rest for 5 minutes and HRV was computed as the root mean square of the successive differences in the interbeat intervals (rMSSD).

Limitations

Given the small sample size, this study should be used to design larger confirmatory studies.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest specific maladaptive metacognitions and high resting HRV as potential psychological vulnerability and psychophysiological protective factors of psychological distress among college students. From a clinical perspective, the present study suggests to implement prevention strategies targeting vagally-mediated HRV in order to reduce the risk of developing clinically significant psychological distress in college students.