Physiological Ups & Downs: Shy Toddlers Self-regulate Cardiac Activity and Behavior Response Under a Challenging Task
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Jessica Grady
Faculty Mentor Department
Psychology
Abstract/Artist Statement
Shy children often show fear and wariness under novel situations and may need help self-regulating their behavioral response. Behavioral self-regulation is associated with physiological self-regulation. Changes in heart activity with respiration are influenced by parasympathetic pathways, the branch of the autonomic nervous system that supports calm engagement with the environment. This process of change in respiration with cardiac activity is referred to as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Change in RSA as we encounter environmental challenges is referred to as RSA reactivity. The present study observes RSA levels and behaviors during a task designed to challenge self-regulation to identify which levels of RSA reactivity coincide with appropriate self-regulation.
Thirty-two toddlers (Mage = 23.38 months) were observed during two laboratory episodes. One episode was designed to measure self-regulation (i.e snack delay) and the other measured cardiac activity while watching a neutral video (i.e. Spot the dog). RSA baseline levels were coded during the Spot the dog task. Behaviors (i.e. latency, waiting turn, fidget behavior, duration) and RSA reactivity were coded during snack delay task. RSA differences from the two episodes resulted in positive values (RSA augmentation) or negative values (RSA suppression).
Results showed that more toddlers displayed RSA suppression (n = 27) than RSA augmentation (n = 5). However, RSA augmentation and RSA suppression values were not significantly correlated to the behavioral measures during snack delay (latency, r = .16; waiting turn, r = .06; fidget behavior, r = .01; duration, r = .15). Past research found a significant correlation between physiological and behavioral self-regulation using a general population of toddlers. Differences in associations between RSA reactivity levels and behavioral measures from past work and present study will be discussed.
Location
Virtual
Start Date
25-4-2020 1:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2020 3:00 PM
Physiological Ups & Downs: Shy Toddlers Self-regulate Cardiac Activity and Behavior Response Under a Challenging Task
Virtual
Shy children often show fear and wariness under novel situations and may need help self-regulating their behavioral response. Behavioral self-regulation is associated with physiological self-regulation. Changes in heart activity with respiration are influenced by parasympathetic pathways, the branch of the autonomic nervous system that supports calm engagement with the environment. This process of change in respiration with cardiac activity is referred to as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Change in RSA as we encounter environmental challenges is referred to as RSA reactivity. The present study observes RSA levels and behaviors during a task designed to challenge self-regulation to identify which levels of RSA reactivity coincide with appropriate self-regulation.
Thirty-two toddlers (Mage = 23.38 months) were observed during two laboratory episodes. One episode was designed to measure self-regulation (i.e snack delay) and the other measured cardiac activity while watching a neutral video (i.e. Spot the dog). RSA baseline levels were coded during the Spot the dog task. Behaviors (i.e. latency, waiting turn, fidget behavior, duration) and RSA reactivity were coded during snack delay task. RSA differences from the two episodes resulted in positive values (RSA augmentation) or negative values (RSA suppression).
Results showed that more toddlers displayed RSA suppression (n = 27) than RSA augmentation (n = 5). However, RSA augmentation and RSA suppression values were not significantly correlated to the behavioral measures during snack delay (latency, r = .16; waiting turn, r = .06; fidget behavior, r = .01; duration, r = .15). Past research found a significant correlation between physiological and behavioral self-regulation using a general population of toddlers. Differences in associations between RSA reactivity levels and behavioral measures from past work and present study will be discussed.