Background

The quality of relationships and social networks plays a vital role on well-being (Feeney 
& Collins, 2015). Social support is linked to positive biological profiles in that social support 
protects against the negative effects of changes in cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and 
immune function. Furthermore, when exploring Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) function, 
higher heart rate variability has been shown to reflect a psychophysiological state compatible 
with social interaction (Quintana, Guastella, Outhred, Hickie, & Kemp, 2012). Social support 
has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of life stressors (Cohen & Wills, 1985), 
and ultimately, mortality (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010). In summary, social 
relationships are important for both health and well-being (see review: Cohen, 2004).

Alternatively, social isolation, social disconnectedness, and loneliness have been shown 
to have negative effects on health (Cornwell & Waite, 2009) as individuals who are socially 
isolated display not only psychological, but also, physical consequences such as: increased 
risk of inflammation and hypertension (Yang et al., 2016) and greater vascular resistance, 
slower wound healing, and poorer sleep efficiency (Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2003). In a 
neuroimaging study examining the effects of social exclusion on health, results show that 
“social pain is analogous in its neurocognitive function to physical pain” (Eisenberger, 
Lieberman, & Williams, 2003, pp. 292). 

In college students, females report more stress from romantic relationships, relationships 
with their parents, and quality of peer relationships when compared to their male counterparts 
(Darling, McWey, Howard, & Olmstead, 2007). Concordantly, aspects of social well-being 
(i.e. need to belong) tend to have greater negative impacts on college-aged females when 
compared to males (Baldwin, Towler, Oliver, & Datta, 2017). Moreover, the quality of such 
relationships have both psychological (Umberson & Montez, 2010), as well as physiological 
(Heaphy & Dutton, 2008) ramifications on health. 

In order to better understand the health and well-being of an individual, one should 
consider his/her relationship qualities and characteristics. Although much is known about the 
positive and negative consequences that relationships have on individual health such as: 
research is lacking regarding its connection between ANS function and domains of wellness 
(i.e. physical, social, emotional, spiritual, psychological, intellectual). It is critical to examine 
the effects of both quantity and extent of relationships in conjunction with health and 
wellness to truly understand the effects that relationships have on quality of life. 

Study Aims/Hypotheses
This study aimed to explore the connection between relationships, wellness, and ANS 
function. Our main hypotheses were as follows: 

(A) there will be a negative correlation between perceived stress and the number of 
meaningful relationships

(B) overall wellness will be positively correlated with number of meaningful relationships, 
(C) there will be a positive association between perceived social support and the number of 

meaningful relationships, 
(D) the number of meaningful relationships will predict wellness, 
(E) the number of meaningful relationships will reflect better ANS function at rest
(F) mental imagery of one’s most meaningful relationship will result in better ANS function 

when compared to baseline.

Conclusion/Implications
1.) Higher quantities of significant relationships is positively associated with enhanced 
perceptions of quality of life. 
2.) Higher numbers of significant relationships reflect both the ability to create and maintain 
meaningful relationships (social wellness), and the seeking out of mentally stimulating activities 
(intellectual wellness).
3.) Consistent with Lane et al. (2009), conscious emotional experiences, reflected in the current 
study’s mental imagery task, led to increases in arousal (increased SC) and in modulating effects 
on the heart (increased HF, decreased LF HRV) allowing for contextually appropriate emotional 
responses.
Our results suggest that relationships are vital in our perception of wellness and can reflect 
changes in autonomic function. Thus, due to the importance and prevalence of relationships in 
today’s society, whether platonic, romantic, parental, or religious, all relationships have the 
potential to impact one’s quality of life and subsequent health status.

The Effects of Relationships on ANS function and Wellness
Olivia Maples, Michael D. Oliver, Ph.D., & Debora R. Baldwin, Ph.D.

Department of Psychology, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Methods
Participants: One hundred sixty college students (M = 18.63, SD 
= 1.17) were asked to complete a survey package (demographics, 
wellness, perceived stress, and relationship satisfaction). 
Materials Used: Once complete, participants were asked to sit 
quietly for 5 minutes prior to obtainment of physiological measures 
[Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Skin Conductance (SC), and 
Electroencephalography (EEG)]. After this acclimation period, 
participants were prepared for physiological recordings using the 
Thought Technology sensors interfaced with their software program 
and assessed for 5 minutes. 
Procedure: After baseline readings, the social manipulation was 
introduced. First, participants were asked to list all of the important 
relationships currently in their lives and indicate the 
significance/roles of the aforementioned relationships. Next, they 
were asked to indicate the most important relationship to them and 
then asked to think about this relationship while creating and 
maintaining an image of this relationship in their mind with their 
eyes closed until further notice. During this time, HRV and SC 
recordings were taken simultaneously for two minutes. Upon 
completion of this task, participants were thanked for their service. 

Table 3

Results

References
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Table 1

ANOVA

Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
Regression 62.057 1 62.057 4.356 0.039*
Residual 1766.688 124      14.247
Total 1828.744 125

Dependent Variable: Overall Perceived Wellness
Predictor: (Constant), Number of Relationships

Table 2

Figure 1