3-040 - Beyond rest and reaction: Examining the significance of physiological recovery and congruence in development

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The papers in this symposium demonstrate that underappreciated elements of the physiological stress response, including the capacity for recovery in the wake of a stressor and the degree of dyadic congruence in autonomic self-regulation, influence development from infancy to emerging adulthood. These studies examine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and autonomic regulatory processes to demonstrate that the full stress response system, in addition to traditional models of rest and reactivity, shape development in infancy (paper 1), childhood (paper 2), and emerging adulthood (paper 3).
The first paper examines infant capacities from social stressors as indexed by cortisol (an indicator of HPA activity) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; an indicator of parasympathetic activity) to show that stress recovery and the coordination between biological systems play a role in the development of behavior problems during infancy among those in poverty. The second paper demonstrates that distinct phases of RSA regulation (i.e., resting, reactivity, recovery) moderate prospective relations between intrusive caregiving practices during the preschool years and child behavior problems 4 years later. Importantly, the third paper extends these relations over time to an emerging adult sample, and across levels to examine recovery and dyadic attunement in HPA and autonomic regulation in young romantic dyads.
Joined by an expert discussant on stress physiology and development, this symposium will encourage developmental scientists to examine the full stress response system, including recovery processes and dyadic attunement. In doing so, we will inform further study design, advance community knowledge, and inform future intervention efforts.

Sub Unit

• Biology and Neuroscience

Chair

• Kristen Rudd, University of California, Riverside

Discussant

• Abbey Alkon, UCSF School of Nursing

Individual Presentations

• Infant Biological Recovery to Stress: HPA and RSA Coordination and Associations with Behavior Problems - Presenting Author: Katherine Hagan, University of Oregon; Jeffrey Measelle, University of Oregon; Jennifer C Ablow, University of Oregon

• Understanding parenting effects in the context of children’s autonomic reactivity and recovery processes - Presenting Author: Kristen Rudd, University of California, Riverside; Abbey Alkon, UCSF School of Nursing; Tuppett Marie Yates, University of California, Riverside

• Physiological Attunement in Emerging Adult Partners during Stress - Presenting Author: Jenny Phan, Iowa State University; Julia Kroener, University of New Orleans; Jeremy Peres, University of New Orleans; Olga Miocevic, Iowa State University; Andrew Dismukes, Iowa State University; Elizabeth Shirtcliff, Iowa State University