Interpersonal Emotion Regulation and Stress Recovery: Examining Heart Rate Dynamics Through Soothing Audio

This research investigates the role of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) in stress recovery by examining heart rate responses to soothing audio interventions. Using a mixed-methods approach, Turkish and Iranian participants residing in Italy completed an online survey and a lab experiment. They were subjected to stress-induction procedure comprising distressing visual stimuli and cognitive tasks, followed by exposure to three intervention conditions: (1) soothing audio in their native language (in-group support), (2) soothing audio in a foreign language (out-group support), and (3) silence (intrapersonal regulation). Each participant experienced all conditions in a randomized order, with their heart rate continuously recorded. Results confirmed that the stress induction increased heart rate. Notably, soothing audio in the native-language led to significantly greater heart rate reduction compared to the other conditions, underscoring the benefits of in-group interpersonal support. Furthermore, higher self-reported use of soothing strategy (IERQ) was associated with better heart rate recovery only in the in-group condition. These outcomes emphasize the value of culturally attuned interventions for stress relief, suggesting that incorporating in-group interpersonal support in therapeutic settings can enhance physiological recovery and emotional regulation, particularly when an individual’s coping resources are limited.