Skin Conductance Reactivity and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Among Maltreated and Comparison Youth: Relations with Aggressive Behavior

Objective The goal of this study was to examine respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system-linked cardiac activity, and skin conductance level (SCL), a sympathetic indicator, as moderators of the link between child maltreatment and adolescent aggression. Metho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of pediatric psychology 2010-06, Vol.35 (5), p.547-558
Main Authors: Gordis, Elana B., Feres, Nashla, Olezeski, Christy L., Rabkin, Ari N., Trickett, Penelope K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
adolescents
Aggression - physiology
Arousal - physiology
Arrhythmia, Sinus - physiopathology
Arrhythmia, Sinus - psychology
behavior problems
Child
Child Abuse - psychology
child abuse and neglect
Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology
Child Behavior Disorders - physiopathology
Child Behavior Disorders - psychology
Electrocardiography
Female
Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Risk Factors
Section II: Biologic Systems
Sex Factors
Sympathetic Nervous System - physiopathology
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Summary:Objective The goal of this study was to examine respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an indicator of parasympathetic nervous system-linked cardiac activity, and skin conductance level (SCL), a sympathetic indicator, as moderators of the link between child maltreatment and adolescent aggression. Method Participants were 234 maltreated (48.3% male) and 128 (57.8% male) comparison youth aged 9–16 years participating in wave 2 of a longitudinal study. Results Regression analyses suggest that among boys, high RSA may be protective against the effects of maltreatment on aggressive behavior. Among girls, the moderating effect of RSA was further moderated by SCL reactivity such that low levels of both baseline RSA and SCL reactivity, or conversely high levels of both baseline RSA and SCL reactivity, exacerbated the link between maltreatment and aggression. Conclusions High RSA may protect against the effects of maltreatment on aggressive behavior, though this effect may be moderated by SCL reactivity among girls.
ISSN:0146-8693
1465-735X
DOI:10.1093/jpepsy/jsp113