Heart Rate Variability Differences among Participants with Different Levels of Self-Criticism during Exposure to a Guided Imagery

Abstract

Our goal was to investigate the heart rate variability differences among participants with different levels of self-criticism during exposure to self-critical, self-protective, and self-compassionate guided imagery. Convenience sample of 89 psychology students was collected with the provision of course credits. The participants underwent measurement of heart rate variability during the guided imagery and completed the Forms of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale to size their level of self-criticism. There were significant heart rate variability differences among participants with low and high levels of self-criticism in all relaxation baseline and three parts of the imagery. High self-critical participants were more distressed during the whole imagery compared to participants with low level of self-criticism. In addition, there was overall significant difference between all three imageries. Not surprisingly, the highest heart rate variability was found during the imagery self-compassionate part as we had expected. The level of self-criticism plays important role in the adjustment of physiological responses to distress. The findings brought a little light into possible diagnostics of high and low self-critical people on the basis of physiological measures without relying only on self-rating scales in future.