EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS ON CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY AND RECOVERY FROM ACUTE STRESS AMONG COVENANT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) and recovery are physiological responses that reflect the body’s adaptation to stress. While these responses are typically adaptive, exaggerated or blunted cardiovascular reactions to acute stress have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study investigated the effects of acute stress on CVR and recovery among Covenant University students and examined the moderating roles of emotional regulation and physical activity. Sixty undergraduate students (42 female and 18 male) from Covenant University participated in an experimental study involving exposure to an acute stressor (serial subtraction task), during which systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) were measured across baseline, stress exposure, and recovery. Emotional dysregulation was assessed using the Brief Emotion Dysregulation Scale, while physical activity levels were self-reported. Results from paired samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant increases in SBP, DBP, and PR during stress and significant reductions during recovery, confirming the physiological impact of acute stress. Moderation analyses revealed that emotional regulation, specifically the lability dimension, significantly moderated PR recovery, suggesting that emotional instability can impair autonomic recovery. Meanwhile, physical activity significantly moderated SBP reactivity, with more active individuals showing higher blood pressure responses to stress. However, neither emotional regulation nor physical activity significantly moderated cardiovascular recovery for SBP or DBP. These findings show that psychological and lifestyle factors can influence how the cardiovascular system responds to stress, but their effects are parameter-specific. The study emphasises the need for integrated interventions to improve cardiovascular resilience in Covenant University students within Nigeria.