Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/26221
Title: Conversational task increases heart rate variability of individuals susceptible to perceived social isolation
Authors: Feng, Ying Xing
Nur Syahirah Roslan
Lila Iznita Izhar
Mohammad Abdul Rahman
Faye, Ibrahima
Ho, Eric Tatt Wei
(UniKL RCMP)
Keywords: Heart rate variability (HRV)
Conversation
Extraversion personality
Perceived social isolation
Mental health
Issue Date: Sep-2021
Publisher: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: Volume 18, Issue 18, September 2021, Article number 9858
Citation: Feng, Y. X., Nur Syahirah Roslan, Lila Iznita Izhar, Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Faye, I., & Ho, E. T. W. (2021). Conversational Task Increases Heart Rate Variability of Individuals Susceptible to Perceived Social Isolation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), 9858. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189858
Abstract: Studies showed that introversion is the strongest personality trait related to perceived social isolation (loneliness), which can predict various complications beyond objective isolation such as living alone. Lonely individuals are more likely to resort to social media for instantaneous comfort, but it is not a perpetual solution. Largely negative implications including poorer interpersonal relationship and depression were reported due to excessive social media usage. Conversational task is an established intervention to improve verbal communication, cognitive and behavioral adaptation among lonely individuals. Despite that behavioral benefits have been reported, it is unclear if they are accompanied by objective benefits underlying physiological changes. Here, we investigate the physiological signals from 28 healthy individuals during a conversational task. Participants were ranked by trait extraversion, where greater introversion is associated with increased susceptibility to perceived social isolation as compared to participants with greater extraversion as controls. We found that introverts had a greater tendency to be neurotic, and these participants also exhibited significant differences in task-related electrodermal activity (EDA), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) as compared to controls. Notably, resting state HRV among individuals susceptible to perceived loneliness was below the healthy thresholds established in literature. Conversational task with a stranger significantly increased HRV among individuals susceptible to isolation up to levels as seen in controls. Since HRV is also elevated by physical exercise and administration of oxytocin hormone (one form of therapy for behavioral isolation), conversational therapy among introverts could potentially confer physiological benefits to ameliorate social isolation and loneliness. Our findings also suggest that although the recent pandemic has changed how people are interacting typically, we should maintain a healthy dose of social interaction innovatively
URI: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/18/9858
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/26221
ISSN: 16617827
Appears in Collections:Journal Articles



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