Cardiac vagal control as a prospective predictor of anxiety in women diagnosed with breast cancer

► Low cardiac vagal control is associated with anxiety. ► Cardiac vagal control is examined as a predictor of anxiety in breast cancer. ► Participants with higher baseline RSA evidence a decrease in anxiety. ► Participants with lower baseline RSA evidence an increase in anxiety. ► Cardiac vagal control may facilitate modulation of anxiety in coping with illness.