Michelle Stephens1, Nicole Bush2, Sandra Weiss3, Abbey Alkon1. 1. Department of Family Health Care Nursing, School of Nursing, 8785University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), CA, USA. 2. Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, 8785University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), CA, USA. 3. Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, 8785University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), CA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and preejection period (PEP), are valid and reliable indicators of children's sensitivity to their environment; however, there are few studies of ANS measures in children less than three years of age. This study's aim was to summarize the distributions, stability, and continuity of RSA and PEP measures during resting, challenge, and reactivity for children at 18- and 36-months. METHODS: This was a cohort study of racially- and ethnically-diverse, low-income children who completed a developmentally challenging protocol while we simultaneously assessed their RSA and PEP at 18-months (N = 134) and 36-months (N = 102). RESULTS: The ANS resting, challenge, and reactivity measures at 18- and 36-months of age were normally distributed. The RSA resting (r = 0.29), RSA challenge (r = 0.44), PEP resting (r = 0.55) and PEP challenge (r = 0.58) measures were moderately stable but RSA (r = 0.01) and PEP reactivity (r = 0.02) were not stable from 18- to 36-months of age. There was no continuity in the ANS measures from 18- to 36-months of age with statistically significant changes in sample means for all of the ANS measures. DISCUSSION: These developmental changes in ANS are shown at the sample level but there are individual differences in ANS responses from 18- to 36-months that may be affected by adversity or protective factors experienced early in life.
OBJECTIVE: Cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) measures, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and preejection period (PEP), are valid and reliable indicators of children's sensitivity to their environment; however, there are few studies of ANS measures in children less than three years of age. This study's aim was to summarize the distributions, stability, and continuity of RSA and PEP measures during resting, challenge, and reactivity for children at 18- and 36-months. METHODS: This was a cohort study of racially- and ethnically-diverse, low-income children who completed a developmentally challenging protocol while we simultaneously assessed their RSA and PEP at 18-months (N = 134) and 36-months (N = 102). RESULTS: The ANS resting, challenge, and reactivity measures at 18- and 36-months of age were normally distributed. The RSA resting (r = 0.29), RSA challenge (r = 0.44), PEP resting (r = 0.55) and PEP challenge (r = 0.58) measures were moderately stable but RSA (r = 0.01) and PEP reactivity (r = 0.02) were not stable from 18- to 36-months of age. There was no continuity in the ANS measures from 18- to 36-months of age with statistically significant changes in sample means for all of the ANS measures. DISCUSSION: These developmental changes in ANS are shown at the sample level but there are individual differences in ANS responses from 18- to 36-months that may be affected by adversity or protective factors experienced early in life.
Authors: Abbey Alkon; Lauren H Goldstein; Nancy Smider; Marilyn J Essex; David J Kupfer; W Thomas Boyce Journal: Dev Psychobiol Date: 2003-01 Impact factor: 3.038
Authors: Nicole R Bush; Karen Jones-Mason; Michael Coccia; Zoe Caron; Abbey Alkon; Melanie Thomas; Kim Coleman-Phox; Pathik D Wadhwa; Barbara A Laraia; Nancy E Adler; Elissa S Epel Journal: Dev Psychopathol Date: 2017-12
Authors: Sheila E Crowell; Theodore P Beauchaine; Lisa Gatzke-Kopp; Patrick Sylvers; Hilary Mead; Jane Chipman-Chacon Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2006-02