The role of childhood traumas, psychological resilience and autonomic nervous system reactivity in cardiovascular diseases

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Objective Early life experiences significantly impact an individual's health. Stressful events during childhood increase the risk of chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study examines the connection between childhood traumatic experiences (CTE) and CVD, focusing on the roles of psychological resilience (PR) and Autonomic Nervous System Reactivity (ANSR).Method The hierarchical logistic regression model was tested on data collected using self-report questionnaires from 327 participants (164 with CVD, 163 healthy).Result Psychological neglect (PN) emerged as the primary predictor of CVD among CTE factors. Incorporating PR and ANSR into the analysis showed they had a minimal impact on the CVD–CTE relationship. Additionally, over protection/over control (OP–OC) was significantly associated with CVD.Discussion The link between CVD, PR and CTE warrants more attention. Psychological interventions are essential to help high-risk populations by either reducing the onset or mitigating long-term effects of CVD.