Cardiac vagal reactivity during relived sadness is predicted by affect intensity and emotional intelligence

► We had participants' relive sadness during psychophysiological recording. ► Reliving sadness increased heart rate and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. ► Affect intensity was associated with parasympathetic activation during sadness. ► Emotional intelligence was associated with parasympathetic activation during sadness. ► Disposition in emotions contribute to physiological responses during emotion.