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Lynch SF, Perlstein S, Ordway C, Jones C, Lembcke H, Waller R, Wagner NJ. Parasympathetic Nervous System Functioning Moderates the Associations between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Emotion Understanding Difficulties in Late Childhood. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:184. [PMID: 38397296 PMCID: PMC10887086 DOI: 10.3390/children11020184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are characterized by low empathy, guilt, and prosociality, putting children at risk for lifespan antisocial behavior. Elevated CU traits have been linked separately to difficulties with emotion understanding (i.e., identifying emotional states of others) and disrupted parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning. However, no study has investigated how PNS functioning and emotion understanding are jointly related to CU traits. METHOD We explored associations between CU traits, emotion understanding, and PNS functioning (indexed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) among children aged 7-10 years old (n = 55). We also tested whether deficits in emotion understanding differ across specific emotions (i.e., fear, pain, happiness, anger). Each child's RSA was continuously recorded while they watched a film that included emotionally evocative social interactions. To assess emotion understanding, children identified emotions replayed in 1s animations of scenes from the film. Parents reported on child CU traits, conduct problems, and demographic information. RESULTS Higher CU traits were related to lower emotion understanding (β = -0.43, p = 0.03). PNS activity during the film moderated this association (β = -0.47, p < 0.001), such that CU traits were associated with lower emotion understanding among children with mean (B = -0.01, t = -2.46, p = 0.02) or high (i.e., 1 SD > M; B = -0.02, t = -3.00, p < 0.001) RSA levels during the film, but not among children with low RSA levels (i.e., 1 SD < M; B = 0.00, t = -0.53, p = 0.60). Moreover, we found that the observed moderated associations are driven by deficits in fear, specifically. CONCLUSIONS The link between poorer emotion understanding, fear understanding in particular, and CU traits was attenuated for children who demonstrated patterns of PNS functioning consistent with attentional engagement while viewing the emotion stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah F. Lynch
- Developmental Sciences, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.F.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Samantha Perlstein
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (C.J.)
| | - Cora Ordway
- Developmental Sciences, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.F.L.); (C.O.)
| | - Callie Jones
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (C.J.)
| | - Hanna Lembcke
- Department of General Psychology, University of Hagen, 58097 Hagen, Germany;
| | - Rebecca Waller
- Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (C.J.)
| | - Nicholas J. Wagner
- Developmental Sciences, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.F.L.); (C.O.)
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Geangu E, Smith WAP, Mason HT, Martinez-Cedillo AP, Hunter D, Knight MI, Liang H, del Carmen Garcia de Soria Bazan M, Tse ZTH, Rowland T, Corpuz D, Hunter J, Singh N, Vuong QC, Abdelgayed MRS, Mullineaux DR, Smith S, Muller BR. EgoActive: Integrated Wireless Wearable Sensors for Capturing Infant Egocentric Auditory-Visual Statistics and Autonomic Nervous System Function 'in the Wild'. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7930. [PMID: 37765987 PMCID: PMC10534696 DOI: 10.3390/s23187930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
There have been sustained efforts toward using naturalistic methods in developmental science to measure infant behaviors in the real world from an egocentric perspective because statistical regularities in the environment can shape and be shaped by the developing infant. However, there is no user-friendly and unobtrusive technology to densely and reliably sample life in the wild. To address this gap, we present the design, implementation and validation of the EgoActive platform, which addresses limitations of existing wearable technologies for developmental research. EgoActive records the active infants' egocentric perspective of the world via a miniature wireless head-mounted camera concurrently with their physiological responses to this input via a lightweight, wireless ECG/acceleration sensor. We also provide software tools to facilitate data analyses. Our validation studies showed that the cameras and body sensors performed well. Families also reported that the platform was comfortable, easy to use and operate, and did not interfere with daily activities. The synchronized multimodal data from the EgoActive platform can help tease apart complex processes that are important for child development to further our understanding of areas ranging from executive function to emotion processing and social learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Geangu
- Psychology Department, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (A.P.M.-C.); (M.d.C.G.d.S.B.)
| | - William A. P. Smith
- Department of Computer Science, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (W.A.P.S.); (J.H.); (M.R.S.A.); (B.R.M.)
| | - Harry T. Mason
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (H.T.M.); (D.H.); (N.S.); (S.S.)
| | | | - David Hunter
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (H.T.M.); (D.H.); (N.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Marina I. Knight
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (M.I.K.); (D.R.M.)
| | - Haipeng Liang
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (H.L.); (Z.T.H.T.)
| | | | - Zion Tsz Ho Tse
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK; (H.L.); (Z.T.H.T.)
| | - Thomas Rowland
- Protolabs, Halesfield 8, Telford TF7 4QN, UK; (T.R.); (D.C.)
| | - Dom Corpuz
- Protolabs, Halesfield 8, Telford TF7 4QN, UK; (T.R.); (D.C.)
| | - Josh Hunter
- Department of Computer Science, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (W.A.P.S.); (J.H.); (M.R.S.A.); (B.R.M.)
| | - Nishant Singh
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (H.T.M.); (D.H.); (N.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Quoc C. Vuong
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Mona Ragab Sayed Abdelgayed
- Department of Computer Science, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (W.A.P.S.); (J.H.); (M.R.S.A.); (B.R.M.)
| | - David R. Mullineaux
- Department of Mathematics, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (M.I.K.); (D.R.M.)
| | - Stephen Smith
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (H.T.M.); (D.H.); (N.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Bruce R. Muller
- Department of Computer Science, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK; (W.A.P.S.); (J.H.); (M.R.S.A.); (B.R.M.)
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Frick PJ. Some critical considerations in applying the construct of psychopathy to research and classification of childhood disruptive behavior disorders. Clin Psychol Rev 2022; 96:102188. [PMID: 35878505 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The recent inclusion of callous-unemotional traits in the diagnostic criteria for serious conduct problems has led to renewed interest in more comprehensive integrations of the construct of psychopathy into research and clinical classification of childhood disruptive behavior disorders. There have been a number of recent reviews of research focusing the many potential benefits for this integration. However, there are also a number of issues that could reduce these benefits and even potentially lead to harmful effects. The current paper focuses on several of these issues, some of which are common when attempting to integrate research findings across areas that have been conducted independently of each other. Other issues are more specific to the construct of psychopathy. Specifically, the current paper focuses on the lack of agreement on the necessary and sufficient dimensions needed to define psychopathy, the need to consider developmental relationships among these dimensions, the implications of the different associations among the dimensions of psychopathy with conduct problems in children and adolescents, the need to consider how these dimensions relate to existing constructs used in the classification of disruptive behavior disorders, and the potential harmful effects of labeling something "a dimension of psychopathy". These issues have several clear implications for using the construct of psychopathy to guide research on and diagnostic classification of childhood disruptive behavior disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Frick
- Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, USA.
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4
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Mikolajewski AJ, Scheeringa MS. Links between Oppositional Defiant Disorder Dimensions, Psychophysiology, and Interpersonal versus Non-interpersonal Trauma. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022; 44:261-275. [PMID: 35669529 PMCID: PMC9165763 DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09930-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is not well understood but appears to have both biologically-based roots and can develop following adverse experiences. The current study is the first to examine the interaction between biologically-based factors and type of trauma experience (i.e., interpersonal and non-interpersonal) and associations with ODD. The psychophysiological factors included baseline resting heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and cortisol. ODD was measured as two dimensions of irritable and defiant/vindictive. The sample included 330 children, 3-7 years-old, oversampled for a history of trauma. Results showed the interactions between baseline physiological arousal variables and trauma type in predicting ODD dimensions were not supported. However, the baseline RSA by trauma interaction was a significant predictor of defiance/vindictiveness among boys, but not girls, when interpersonal trauma was compared to controls. Several other gender differences emerged. Among boys, both interpersonal and non-interpersonal trauma were predictive of ODD dimensions; however, among girls, non-interpersonal trauma was not. Among girls, there was a significant negative bivariate relationship between baseline cortisol and irritability. Also, when the sample was restricted to those with interpersonal trauma only and controls, baseline RSA was negatively associated with irritability in girls only (controlling for trauma). Finally, retrospective reports revealed that children who met criteria for ODD diagnosis and experienced interpersonal trauma were more likely to exhibit ODD symptoms prior to their trauma compared to those who experienced non-interpersonal trauma. Results are discussed in the context of previous mixed findings, and avenues for future research are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy J Mikolajewski
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Michael S Scheeringa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
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Introduction to the Special Section: What Do We Know About the Psychophysiology of Child Psychopathy and Conduct Problems? JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09950-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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6
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Psychopathy, the Four Facet Model, and Fearlessness: Testing Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System Reactivity in a Late Adolescent Sample. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-021-09948-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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Wagner NJ, Holochwost SJ, Lynch SF, Mills-Koonce R, Propper C. Characterizing change in vagal tone during the first three years of life: A systematic review and empirical examination across two longitudinal samples. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:282-295. [PMID: 34324920 PMCID: PMC8429175 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), most often indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), influences the volitional, cognitively-mediated forms of self-regulation across development. However, despite its clear relevance to children's self-regulation, and its utility as a transdiagnostic biomarker of emotion dysregulation and psychopathology, the ontogeny of vagal tone under conditions of homeostasis across infancy and early childhood is not well understood. The current research is comprised of two complementary studies. The first aims to address this gap by conducting a systematic review of the literature which has assessed resting RSA in the first three years of life. The second study uses data from two diverse, longitudinal datasets (n = 203 and n = 370) to model change in RSA from infancy to toddlerhood. Results from a systematic review of 62 studies meeting inclusion criteria suggest that measures of resting RSA increase over time and demonstrate moderate stability across infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool ages. Results from a series of models fit to longitudinal data in study two suggest that baseline RSA is characterized by stable increases across infancy and early childhood. Moreover, although there was equivocal evidence for individual variability in trajectories of RSA, the findings suggest that the individual differences in resting RSA may become entrenched in early life based on observed significant variance in growth model intercepts. In all, the current study contributes to our understanding of the developmental trajectories of baseline RSA across infancy and early childhood and should support future research examining links between children's parasympathetic regulation and their adjustment in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cathi Propper
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States
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8
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Autonomic Nervous System Inflexibility During Parent-child Interactions is Related to Callous-unemotional Traits in Youth Aged 10-14 Years Old. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2021; 49:1581-1592. [PMID: 34313902 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-021-00849-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Youth with callous-unemotional (CU) traits are at high risk for aggression and antisocial behavior. Extant literature suggests that CU traits are related to abnormal autonomic responses to negatively-valenced emotional stimuli, although few studies have tested autonomic responding specifically during social interactions. To address this knowledge gap, the current study tested whether CU traits were related to autonomic activity, assessed via respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), during several parent-child interaction tasks designed to provoke negative emotion. The sample was 162 clinically referred youth (M age = 12.03, SD = .92; 47% female). Using piecewise latent growth models, we estimated individual differences in RSA during three semi-structured social interaction tasks (reading aloud to a parent and research assistant; a recovery period from the reading task; and a parent-child conflict discussion) and tested whether CU traits were related to patterns of RSA responding across tasks. Overall, youth showed expected RSA decreases during the reading period, increases in RSA during recovery, and further decreases during the conflict discussion. However, youth with clinically-elevated CU traits had a different pattern of RSA change across tasks, such that CU traits were related to significantly less RSA change during reading and recovery. Findings suggest that less RSA engagement during social interactions and less RSA recovery may be a biomarker of CU traits. Future research is needed to examine whether this inflexibility contributes to the development of CU traits beginning early in childhood.
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9
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Wagner NJ, Holochwost S, Danko C, Propper CB, Coffman JL. Observed Peer Competence Moderates Links between Children's Self-Regulation Skills and Academic Performance. EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH QUARTERLY 2020; 54:286-293. [PMID: 33162669 PMCID: PMC7641505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The current study focuses on the relations between observed measures of children's self-regulation and academic achievement, as well as the extent to which observations of children's peer competence in preschool moderates these links. Data were drawn from 102 students (male = 48; M age = 4.82 years, SD age = 0.46 years) enrolled in pre-kindergarten classrooms. A series of linear path models was used to test study hypotheses, and the nature of significant interactions was elucidated by examining simple slopes and regions of significance. Children's self-regulation, but not peer competence, significantly predicted both reading and math performance assessed using the Woodcock Johnson III, β = .43, p < .001 and β = .39, p < .001, respectively. Tests of moderation effects revealed that the association between children's poor self-regulation and poor math performance, but not reading performance, β = -.28, p = .022 and β = -.11, p = .23, was negated for children with average to high peer competence. These results demonstrate the protective quality of peer competence for academic performance using observational methods collected in preschools.
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10
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Huffman LG, Oshri A, Caughy M. An autonomic nervous system context of harsh parenting and youth aggression versus delinquency. Biol Psychol 2020; 156:107966. [PMID: 33027683 PMCID: PMC7665164 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Harsh parenting is a significant predictor of youth aggression and delinquency. However, not every child exposed to adverse parenting develops such problem behaviors. Recent developmental evolutionary models suggest that variability in stress response reactivity to parenting, reflected by autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning, may affect the impact of adverse parenting on youth behavioral adjustment. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the ANS moderate the association between parenting and aggressive and delinquent behaviors. The study sample included low-income, ethnically diverse preadolescents (M = 10.28 years old; N = 101) and their caregivers. Direct effects were found from basal RSA to delinquent behaviors. In addition, harsh parenting predicted increased youths' aggressive and delinquent behaviors in the context of high RSA withdrawal and increased youths' delinquent behaviors in the context of shortened basal PEP. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landry Goodgame Huffman
- Neuroscience Program, Biomedical & Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30607, United States.
| | - Assaf Oshri
- Department of Human Development & Family Science, College of Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30607, United States
| | - Margaret Caughy
- Department of Human Development & Family Science, College of Family & Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30607, United States
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11
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Wagner NJ, Bowker JC, Rubin KH. Associations Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Peer-Rated Social-Behavioral Outcomes in Elementary and Middle School. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:757-769. [PMID: 32185609 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-020-00636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
There is strong evidence that peers are of central importance to children's and adolescents' social and emotional adaptation and success in school. However, it remains an open question as to whether callous-unemotional (CU) traits, or interpersonal and affective deficits that pose risk for antisocial behaviors and psychopathy, are related to social-behavioral outcomes as assessed by those who are believed to have the most accurate perspectives on such outcomes - young adolescents' peers. Using data from a longitudinal and multi-method study of peer relations (N = 379, % female = 51.90, Mage = 10.24 at Time 1), the current study addressed this gap by examining the links between teacher-reports of CU traits and conduct problems (CP) and peer-reports of the extent to which young adolescents are aggressive, victimized, excluded, prosocial, and sociable during the Fall and Spring semesters in Grade 5 (Times 1and 2) and Grade 6 (Times 3 and 4). Results revealed that teacher-rated CP, but not CU traits, was associated positively with peer-reports of aggression. CU traits, but not CP, was associated positively with victimization/exclusion and associated negatively with prosociality. CU traits and CP demonstrated opposite relations with sociability, with CU traits demonstrating a negative association. Findings are discussed in the context of the broader literature examining the social-behavioral correlates of CU traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Wagner
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Room 119, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Julie C Bowker
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY, 14260-4110, USA
| | - Kenneth H Rubin
- Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, Benjamin Building, RM 1108B, 3942 Campus Dr., College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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Portnoy J, Jennings JR, Matthews KA, Pardini D, Raine A. The relationship between resting heart rate and aggression in males is racially variant. Aggress Behav 2020; 46:170-180. [PMID: 31957890 DOI: 10.1002/ab.21879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Although resting heart rate is thought to be a generalizable risk factor for aggression, very little research has examined whether this relationship varies by race. We addressed this limitation using longitudinal data from the Pittsburgh Youth Study. Current data are from 197 men who participated in a teenage biosocial study (mean age = 15.7 years) and adult follow-up study (mean age = 32.1 years). Teenage resting heart rate interacted with race to predict teenage and adult aggression. The relationship between heart rate and aggression was significant in White, but not in Black males. To our knowledge, this is the first study to find that the relationship between resting heart rate and aggression is racially variant, suggesting that resting heart rate may not be a generalizable biomarker for conduct problems. At an intervention-level, findings could contribute to the development of more accurate risk assessment tools that take into account racial variance in risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Portnoy
- School of Criminology and Justice StudiesUniversity of Massachusetts LowellLowell Massachusetts
| | - J. Richard Jennings
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, School of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Karen A. Matthews
- Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, School of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghPittsburgh Pennsylvania
| | - Dustin Pardini
- School of Criminology and Criminal JusticeArizona State UniversityTempe Arizona
| | - Adrian Raine
- Departments of Criminology, Psychology, and PsychiatryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia Pennsylvania
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Thomson ND, Beauchaine TP. Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Mediates Links Between Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms and Both Aggressive and Violent Behavior. J Pers Disord 2019; 33:544-559. [PMID: 30307825 DOI: 10.1521/pedi_2018_32_358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Although emotion dysregulation (ED) is a core symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD), tests of associations between ED and aggression and violence-which are common to BPD-are sparse. The authors evaluated mediating effects of an autonomic vulnerability to ED on links between BPD symptoms and (a) reactive aggression, (b) proactive aggression, and (c) histories of interpersonal violence in a sample of young adults (N = 104), ages 18-22 years. Low baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) mediated the association between BPD symptoms and reactive aggression. In contrast, although BPD symptoms were correlated with proactive aggression, no mediational effect was found. In addition, low RSA mediated the association between BPD symptoms and histories of interpersonal violence. Collectively, these findings add evidence that neurobiological vulnerability to ED contributes to aggressive and violent behavior among those with BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Thomson
- Division of Acute Care Surgical Services, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, Virginia, and University of Durham, Durham, UK
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Fanti KA, Eisenbarth H, Goble P, Demetriou C, Kyranides MN, Goodwin D, Zhang J, Bobak B, Cortese S. Psychophysiological activity and reactivity in children and adolescents with conduct problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:98-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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15
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Wagner NJ, Mills-Koonce WR, Willoughby MT, Cox MJ. Parenting and Cortisol in Infancy Interactively Predict Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Behaviors in Childhood. Child Dev 2019; 90:279-297. [PMID: 28737836 PMCID: PMC5783800 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
This study examines observed maternal sensitivity, harsh-intrusion, and mental-state talk in infancy as predictors of conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors in middle childhood, as well as the extent to which infants' resting cortisol and cortisol reactivity moderate these associations. Using data from the Family Life Project (n = 1,292), results indicate that maternal sensitivity at 6 months predicts fewer CP at first grade, but only for infants who demonstrate high levels of cortisol reactivity. Maternal harsh intrusion predicts fewer empathic-prosocial behaviors, a component of CU behaviors, but only for infants who demonstrate high resting cortisol. Findings are discussed in the context of diathesis-stress and differential susceptibility models.
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Abstract
Psychopathy is a disorder that occurs primarily in males. Offenders with psychopathic traits are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime in society, particularly violent crime. Early childhood is a time when individual differences in empathy and guilt-key indicators of the construct of psychopathy-are first evident. A growing number of longitudinal studies have begun to investigate how factors in infancy and early childhood predict psychopathic-like traits in later childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. These studies have suggested that parenting styles during infancy (parental sensitivity, maternal harsh intrusion, commenting on the emotional state of the child) as well as attachment styles are predictive of later psychopathic-like traits. In addition, child characteristics such as temperament and the functioning of biological systems such as the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are predictive. Overall, studies have suggested that at least some of the origins of psychopathic traits are present in infancy and early childhood, which is consistent with the perspective of psychopathy as a neurodevelopmental disorder. A recent evolutionary-developmental model provides hypotheses regarding how psychopathy may develop and why it is more common in males than females. This model, and its implications for intervention, is discussed in the context of the longitudinal studies that have been conducted on psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Glenn
- Center for the Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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Wagner NJ, Hastings PD, Rubin KH. Children's autonomic functioning moderates links between maternal rejecting attitudes and preschool aggressive behaviors. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 60:739-747. [PMID: 29927485 PMCID: PMC6107380 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Substantial theoretical and empirical literature suggests that the extent to which children's early experiences contribute to the development of aggressive behaviors may depend on the psychophysiological regulatory capacities of the child. This study adds to this literature by examining the relations between mothers' rejecting child-rearing attitudes and children's aggressive behaviors, as well as whether children's parasympathetic regulation, both at rest and in response to anger-inducing films, moderate these links. Using the data collected from 88 preschoolers (mage = 51 months), the results revealed that the positive association between mothers' rejecting child-rearing attitudes and children's aggressive behaviors was moderated by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reactivity to anger. More rejecting child-rearing attitudes predicted more aggressive behaviors only for children who showed mild RSA suppression to RSA augmentation. Conversely, and consistent with the differential-susceptibility model, children who showed mild RSA suppression to RSA augmentation had the fewest aggressive behaviors when mothers reported less rejecting child-rearing attitudes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Wagner
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, 64 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, , 252-290-7444
| | - Paul D. Hastings
- Department of Psychology, UC Davis, 267 Cousteau Place, Davis, CA 95618
| | - Kenneth H. Rubin
- Human Development and Quantitative Methodology, University of Maryland, Benjamin Building, RM 3304, 3942 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742
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18
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Waller R, Hyde LW. Callous-unemotional behaviors in early childhood: the development of empathy and prosociality gone awry. Curr Opin Psychol 2018; 20:11-16. [PMID: 28822897 PMCID: PMC5965673 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.07.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors are critical to understanding the development of severe forms of aggression and antisocial behavior. CU behaviors include deficits in empathy and prosocial behavior, as well as reduced interpersonal responsivity to others. We review recent research examining CU behaviors in early childhood and the role that parents play in the development of early CU behaviors. We integrate research on the development of empathy and prosociality with that of CU behaviors to propose a developmental model of early CU behaviors that considers person-by-context interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Waller
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Luke W Hyde
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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19
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Proactive and Reactive Aggression Subgroups in Typically Developing Children: The Role of Executive Functioning, Psychophysiology, and Psychopathy. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2018; 49:197-208. [PMID: 28681106 PMCID: PMC5856868 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-017-0741-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess whether groups of aggressive children differed on psychopathic traits, and neuropsychological and neurobiological measures of prefrontal functioning consistent with the objectives of their aggression-reactive or proactive. Including 110 typically developing children (9-11 years), a latent class analysis identified a low aggression group, a high reactive aggression group, and a mixed (high reactive and proactive) aggression group. Results show high callous-unemotional traits and low resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia increased the likelihood of children being in the mixed aggression group, when compared to the reactive and low aggression groups. However, deficits in planning and inhibitory control increased the likelihood of children being in the reactive aggression group, when compared to the mixed and low aggression groups. Executive functioning deficits did not differentiate the mixed group from the low aggression group. These findings highlight psychobiological and executive functioning differences that may explain heterogeneity in childhood aggression.
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20
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Callous-Unemotional Traits and Autonomic Functioning in Toddlerhood Interact to Predict Externalizing Behaviors in Preschool. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 46:1439-1450. [DOI: 10.1007/s10802-017-0374-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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21
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Wagner NJ, Mills-Koonce WR, Propper CB, Willoughby MT, Rehder PD, Moore GA, Cox MJ. Associations between Infant Behaviors during the Face-To-Face Still-Face Paradigm and Oppositional Defiant and Callous-Unemotional Behaviors in Early Childhood. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 44:1439-1453. [PMID: 26936036 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-016-0141-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Deficits in social orienting (i.e., gazing toward caregivers) during dyadic interactions and reactivity to stressful stimuli have been identified as behavioral correlates of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors in older children. The goal of the current study was to investigate infants' mother-directed gaze and reactivity during the face-to-face and still-face episodes of the face-to-face stillface paradigm performed at 6 months in the prediction of ODD and CU behaviors in early childhood. Using data from the Durham Child Health and Development study (n = 206), hierarchical regression analyses revealed that infants' negative reactivity during the still-face episode and mother-directed gaze during the face-to-face episode predicted fewer ODD behaviors in early childhood. Examination of interaction effects suggested that mother-directed gaze attenuated the negative relation between reactivity and ODD and CU behaviors in early childhood. The current study is one of the first to extend downward the investigation of ODD and CU behaviors into infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Wagner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB#3270 Davie Hall, Room 217, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3270, USA.
| | - W Roger Mills-Koonce
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Stone Building Room 165E, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Cathi B Propper
- Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 100 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michael T Willoughby
- RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
| | - Pete D Rehder
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Stone Building Room 165E, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402-6170, USA
| | - Ginger A Moore
- Penn State University, 140 Moore Building, University Park, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Martha J Cox
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 3270, 215 Davie Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3270, USA
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Waller R, Hyde L. Callous-Unemotional Behaviors in Early Childhood: Measurement, Meaning, and the Influence of Parenting. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2017; 11:120-126. [PMID: 28824706 DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Antisocial behavior is costly and harmful to families, communities, and society. With roots in early childhood, antisocial behavior puts children at risk for poor physical and mental health outcomes across development. Callous-unemotional (CU) traits identify a subgroup of youth with particularly severe and stable antisocial behavior. While much literature has examined CU traits in late childhood and adolescence, researchers are just beginning to elucidate the developmental origins of CU traits. In this article, we review research examining the measurement and correlates of CU behaviors in early childhood, along with evidence that these early behaviors predict later measures of CU traits. We then describe research highlighting the role that parents play in the development of CU behaviors in early childhood. Finally, we outline translational implications and ethical considerations for studying CU behaviors and consider the use of the term CU traits in young children.
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