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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a moderator of early maltreatment effects on later externalizing problems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2020

Alexandra R. Tabachnick Open the ORCID record for Alexandra R. Tabachnick [Opens in a new window] ,
Christina Moore ,
K. Lee Raby Open the ORCID record for K. Lee Raby [Opens in a new window] ,
Alison Goldstein ,
Lindsay Zajac  and
Mary Dozier
Alexandra R. Tabachnick*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Christina Moore
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
K. Lee Raby
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Alison Goldstein
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
Lindsay Zajac
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Mary Dozier
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Alexandra Tabachnick, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 108 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE19716; E-mail: atabachnick@psych.udel.edu.
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Abstract

Physiological regulation may interact with early experiences such as maltreatment to increase risk for behavior problems. In the current study, we investigate the role of parasympathetic nervous system regulation (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] at rest and in response to a frustration task) as a moderator of the association between early risk for maltreatment (i.e., involvement with Child Protective Services; CPS) and externalizing behavior problems in middle childhood. CPS involvement was associated with elevated externalizing problems, but only among children with average to high RSA at rest and average to high RSA withdrawal in response to frustration. Effects appeared to be specific to CPS involvement as the association between cumulative risk (i.e., nonmaltreatment experiences of early adversity) and externalizing problems was not significantly moderated by RSA activity. These findings are consistent with the theoretical idea that the consequences of early maltreatment for later externalizing behavior problems depend on children's biological regulation abilities.

Keywords

maltreatmentpsychophysiologyRSA
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 33 , Issue 3 , August 2021 , pp. 821 - 831
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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