Interrupting the intergenerational transmission of aggression: Examining physiological reactivity to infant cries

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: PS 13 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

According to the intergenerational transmission of aggression, individuals who grow up in violent homes are at risk for abusing their own children (Berlin et al., 2011). Yet relatively little is known about how family aggression is passed down across generations. One process-focused hypothesis is that dysregulated psychophysiology during emotionally evocative interpersonal interactions predicts aggression (Margolin et al., 2016). Some studies found that growing up in an aggressive family is associated with hyperactivation of physiological systems (e.g., Arbel et al., 2017), whereas others found a history of family origin aggression (FOA) is associated with hypoactivation of physiological systems (e.g., Luecken et al., 2009).

Inconsolable, unremitting baby cries typically evoke emotional and physiological reactions (Joosen et al., 2013), and both branches of the autonomic nervous system, i.e., the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) nervous systems, may be related to caregiving in response to infant distress. The SNS response typically produces increased electrodermal activity (EDA). The PNS is typically indexed through respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). RSA is thought to reflect the calming influence of the PNS on the heart (e.g., Porges 2007). In response to stress, RSA withdrawal suggests attenuation of the PNS, which allows the body to enable coping responses (Frazier et al., 2004). Though autonomic responding is described as a reciprocal process, there is evidence to suggest coactivation or uncoupled responding is also possible (Berntson et al., 1993).

The current study describes the patterns of physiological reactivity in response to infant cry associated with FOA in young adults that do not yet have children. By examining these associations in young adults before they have children, we aim to identify a missing intermediary step in the intergenerational transmission that could be addressed in interventions to prevent family violence. We hypothesize there will be a positive association between FOA and SNS activation, indexed by EDA, during bouts of crying and during recovery (i.e., silence). Additionally, we hypothesize dysregulation of the PNS, indexed by RSA, meaning we anticipate higher average RSA during bouts of crying and lower average RSA during periods of rest.

Participants included 65 young adults (Mage = 22.23, SDage = 2.16; 28 women, 31 men, 6 gender nonconforming). Participants had to be between 18 and 25 years old and English-speaking. Exclusion criteria included having biological or adopted children, or previous pregnancies. The procedures, previously piloted (Rasmussen et al., 2018), used a life-like electronic infant simulator, that was preprogrammed for set periods of crying versus quiet, in a 25-minute standardized paradigm (5-minute blocks of silence, crying, silence, crying, silence). Participants were instructed to care for the simulator (using appropriate infant supplies) as though it is a real baby. During the task, we measured continuous physiological reactivity (i.e., RSA, EDA). FOA is measured through a 70-item validated questionnaire. Hypotheses will be tested using separate multilevel models predicting EDA and RSA from FOA over the course of the caregiving task.

Study data collection is complete. The cleaning and processing of physiological data is in progress, and data analysis will be completed before the meeting.

Authors

• Hannah Faith Rasmussen, University of Southern California
  Presenting Author

• Zaharah Zaidi, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Peyton Brown, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lisa Freedland, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Patrick Lee, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shreevika Mitra, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

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