The Effects of Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Suppression on Autonomic Nervous Reactions on the Basis of Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of emotion regulation strategies of cognitive appraisal and emotional suppression on autonomic nervous reactions based on high and low sensory processing sensitivity among students.
Methods For this purpose, 500 students of Bu Ali Sina University of Hamadan were selected through a stratified sampling approach. Based on final score distribution (Z Standard) in sensory processing sensitivity scale, 45 of the subjects were chosen for testing the study hypothesis. The participants were studied for autonomic nervous reactions under normal viewing conditions, cognitive appraisal and emotional suppression. To evaluate the results of the study, the collected data were analyzed by using multivariate analysis of covariance, univariate covariance and post hoc tests.
Results The results showed significant differences between three groups in the autonomic nervous reactions based on emotion regulation and sensory processing sensitivity. The group with high sensory processing sensitivity gained higher heart rate and systolic blood pressure. In normal viewing, suppression and cognitive appraisal, the diastolic pressure was lower compared to the baseline.
Conclusion The suppression and cognitive appraisal compared to normal viewing was followed by decreased diastolic pressure that represents low levels of heart rate in normal viewing mode compared to the baseline. The use of cognitive appraisal and suppression compared to normal viewing led to increased heart rate. Therefore, cognitive appraisal and suppression as emotion regulation strategies can interact with personality traits associated with sensory processing sensitivity that influences the physiological reactions.