The utility of combining respiratory sinus arrhythmia indices in association with internet addiction

The aim of this study is to examine the association of the combined indices of respiratory sinus arrhythmia at rest (basal RSA) and in response to a mental arithmetic task (RSA reactivity) to internet addiction. Participants included 99 young adults (61 men and 38 women) who reported on their levels of internet addiction. The results indicated that RSA reactivity moderated the association between basal RSA and self-reported internet addiction. This showcased that basal RSA had a negative association with internet addiction for individuals with higher RSA reactivity but had no significant association with internet addiction for those with lower RSA reactivity. These findings help to extend our understanding of the link between the parasympathetic nervous systems activity and internet addiction. Additionally, it underscores the need for the simultaneous consideration of basal RSA and RSA reactivity in future studies.