Type D personality, characterised by negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been consistently linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Although the underlying mechanisms for this have not been established, previous research has indicated that an impaired cardiovascular stress reactivity, and the use of less approach-oriented, and more avoidant-oriented coping styles, may contribute to this risk. The present study aimed to extend the existing literature, by investigating the relationship between type D personality, coping, and heart rate variability (HRV) in female students, both at baseline, and during a mild cognitive stressor. 98 female University students completed an initial online survey, consisting of the Type D Personality Scale (DS-14), used to measure type D personality, and the brief-COPE Inventory, used to examine approach and avoidant coping. 22 participants took part in a subsequent laboratory component, during which two, five-minute HRV recordings were taken: at baseline, and during the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT). Findings revealed that type D personality was associated with the significantly greater use of avoidance-oriented coping, in addition to less frequent use of approach-oriented coping. Frequency-domain analysis showed that although HRV did not significantly differ between groups at baseline, type D participants exhibited a significantly reduced HF HRV during the stressor, indicative of parasympathetic withdrawal, and thereby evidencing a heightened cardiovascular stress response. Additionally, type D participants displayed a blunted LF/HF HRV ratio in response to the PASAT, indicative of maladaptive sympathovagal regulation to stress. Further analysis, however, revealed that the use of avoidant or approach coping did not interact with type D personality to influence the change in HRV during the stressor. These findings make a valuable contribution to the existing literature, and may have important implications in furthering our understanding of type D personality as a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Future research should explore this finding in other, non-student populations, and should incorporate further measures of HRV during recovery from stress.
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