Dynamic measures of RSA predict distress and regulation in toddlers. Academic Article

abstract

• In this study, we examined a new method for quantifying individual variability using dynamic measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). This method incorporated temporal variation into the measurement of RSA and provided information beyond that offered by more traditional quantifications such as difference scores. Dynamic and static measures of change in RSA were tested in relation to displays of emotion and affective behaviors during a fear-eliciting episode in a sample of 88 typically developing and high-fear toddlers during a laboratory visit at age 24 months. Dynamic measures of RSA contributed information that was unique from traditionally employed, static change scores in predicting high-fear toddlers' displays of shyness during a fear-eliciting episode. In contrast, RSA change scores offered information related to boldness in nonhigh-fear children. In addition, several associations included estimates of nonlinear change in RSA. Implications for the study of individual differences in RSA and relations with emotion and emotion regulation are discussed.

authors

• Brooker, Rebecca

published proceedings

• Dev Psychobiol

author list (cited authors)

• Brooker, R. J., & Buss, K. A.

citation count

• 63

complete list of authors

• Brooker, Rebecca J||Buss, Kristin A

publication date

• May 2010

publisher

• Wiley  Publisher

published in

• Developmental Psychobiology  Journal

keywords

• Child, Preschool
• Electrocardiography
• Fear
• Female
• Heart Rate
• Humans
• Interpersonal Relations
• Male
• Respiration
• Shyness
• Social Environment
• Stress, Psychological
• Surveys And Questionnaires

PubMed Central ID

• 20373328

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1002/dev.20432

start page

• 372

end page

• 382

volume

• 52

issue

• 4

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.20432