Differences in Mother-Child and Father-Child RSA Synchrony: Moderation by Child and Dyadic Factors

• In Event: Predictors and Outcomes of Dynamic Parent-Child Neurophysiology: A Symposium Honoring Dr. Carrie DePasquale

Abstract

Parents and preschoolers show synchrony of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), but it is unclear how child and dyadic factors shape RSA synchrony and how synchrony differs for mothers and fathers. Previous research shows higher child externalizing disrupts mother-child RSA synchrony (Kahle et al., 2018; Lunkenheimer et al., 2015, 2018) such that mothers are less likely to show RSA withdrawal indicative of engagement in challenging parent-child tasks. However, further research is needed given that the adaptive or maladaptive nature of RSA synchrony appears to vary by parent and child risk level and type (Davis et al., 2017; Suveg et al., 2016). Also, although fathers play a key role in children’s regulatory development (Rinaldi & Howe, 2012), little is known about father-child RSA synchrony. In the present study we examined child externalizing problems, child average RSA, and dyadic positive affect as moderators of the dynamic synchrony of parent-child RSA during a challenging task.
Participants included 85 mother-child and 60 father-child dyads (child Mage = 3.04, SDage = 0.11). Mothers reported child externalizing via the CBCL (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000). Each dyad completed an empirically validated parent-child problem-solving task, from which RSA and dyadic positive affect were collected. RSA data was calculated from 30 second epochs of ECG and respiration data. Dyadic positive affect was calculated as the total duration of seconds during the interaction in which either or both members of the dyad were in a positive affective state. Multilevel (ML) intradyad modeling was used to investigate parent-child RSA synchrony and whether children’s average RSA, externalizing problems, or positive dyadic affective moderated parent-child RSA synchrony. ML intradyad modeling allows for parsing individual “trait” levels of functioning (average RSA levels) from dynamic “state” reactivity (RSA changes in each epoch) when modeling synchrony.
We found that for mother-child dyads, externalizing and average RSA moderated mother-child RSA synchrony. When children showed either lower average RSA or higher externalizing, negative synchrony was observed (maternal RSA augmentation with child RSA withdrawal); however, when children showed both lower average RSA and higher externalizing, or higher average RSA and lower externalizing, positive synchrony was observed (joint RSA withdrawal). Comparatively, externalizing problems and dyadic positive affect moderated father-child RSA synchrony. Higher dyadic positive affect and externalizing was associated with negative synchrony (paternal augmentation with child withdrawal) whereas lower positive affect and higher externalizing was associated with positive synchrony (joint RSA augmentation).
By investigating individual and dyadic moderators, we gained new insights into RSA synchrony during early childhood. Mother-child dyads with risk factors of higher externalizing or lower child average RSA experienced negative synchrony indicative of maternal disengagement, which may have negative implications for children’s regulatory development. For father-child dyads, higher positive affect predicted negative synchrony, potentially indicative of affective dysregulation for children with higher externalizing or paternal disengagement. This study offers needed findings on father-child physiological synchrony in early childhood. It also advances modeling options by showcasing a method that accounts for individual contributions to a dyadic process and helps inform the role of RSA synchrony in developmental psychopathology.

Authors

• Kayla Melissa Brown, Advocates for Human Potential
  Presenting Author

• Erika S. Lunkenheimer, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anna Fuchs, The Pennsylvania State University
  Non-Presenting Author