Adverse childhood experiences and partners’ level of stress as moderators of heart rate

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Abstract

Exposure to childhood adversity has been shown to disrupt the development of physiological regulatory systems (Taylor et al., 2011), which can manifest in exaggerated reactivity to daily stressors (i.e., stress from work/school) (Koss & Gunnar, 2018) and lead to significant health problems in adulthood (Taylor, 2010). Although most theoretical models of stress typically focus on physiological arousal within the individual, less is known about the connection between early adversity, everyday stress exposure, and physiological reactivity within the context of close, romantic relationships that develop later in life. Stress can be a highly dyadic process (Randall & Bodenmann, 2009); experiences of daily stressors in one individual can spillover to indirectly influence the partner’s physiological arousal. The present study examines how childhood exposure to adversity relates to physiological stress arousal in daily life in adulthood and tests how these patterns of reactivity relate to each romantic partner’s experience of everyday stress. Figure 1 presents an overview of our analyses. We hypothesize that participant (HO1a) and partner (HO1b) experiences of childhood adversity will be associated with greater heart rate (HR) during daily stressors. Second, we hypothesize that partners will demonstrate stress spillover, such that physiological stress reactivity in daily life will be greater if the romantic partner is stressed at the same time (HO2). Finally, we hypothesize that stress spillover will be amplified even further if participants (HO3a) and their partners (Hypothesis 3b) have experienced high levels of adversity in their childhoods (HO3b).Participants included 106 heterosexual young adult dating couples (M age = 23.1 years; SD = 3.0; M relationship length = 32.3 months; SD = 26.8). Participants first completed questionnaires assessing the extent to which each person experienced adversity in their family of origin between the years of 0 and 18 years old. Next, using ecological momentary assessments, couples reported their hourly feelings of stress, as well as the source of stressors (e.g., related to work/school, friends/family, or from other events/news) over one the day. Couples also wore ambulatory heart rate monitors measuring ECG signals continuously from 10:00 am until bedtime. Monitors also recorded body temperature and participants’ physical activity levels. HR for each hour of the day was calculated as the number of beats per minute. Multilevel models will be used to assess changes in HR (level 1) during periods daily stress (level 1), controlling for activity level, body temperature, and whether partners were together (level 1). Partner daily stress (level 1) and self and partner childhood adversity (level 2) will be added as moderators of the level 1 association between daily stress and HR. Results will inform how experiences of childhood adversity can carry forward to shape adult physiological responses and have broad impacts on not just the individual but also on relational functioning. By examining the dynamic links between individual and dyadic physiological stress arousal, we hope to provide important information about how stress responses evolve and can contribute to maladaptive relationship processes.

Authors

• Jacqueline Duong, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Elizabeth M. Gallego, Florida International University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Natalia Simo Fiallo, Florida International University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Carlos Silvera, University of Miami
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rozeena Taylor, Florida International University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Graciela Hernandez, Florida International University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Yehsong Kim, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sohyun C. Han, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
  Non-Presenting Author

• Gayla Margolin, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Adela C Timmons, Florida International University
  Non-Presenting Author