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Autonomic reactivity in relation to attachment and early adversity among foster children

Mirjam Oosterman1, J Clasien De Schipper, Philip Fisher

  • 1Department of Clinical Child and Family Studies, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.oosterman@psy.vu.nl

Development and Psychopathology
|January 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Foster care quality impacts children's emotional regulation. Secure relationships support better autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation, while early adversity and disordered attachment are linked to heightened sympathetic reactivity.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Foster care children often experience early adversity, impacting emotional and physiological regulation.
  • Attachment quality is crucial for developing coping mechanisms in stressful situations.
  • Autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity reflects a child's physiological response to stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between foster caregiver relationship quality and children's ANS reactivity.
  • To examine the influence of early adversity on attachment and ANS reactivity in foster children.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty children (26-88 months) and their foster caregivers participated in the Strange Situation procedure.
  • Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (parasympathetic) and preejection period (sympathetic) measured ANS reactivity.
  • Attachment quality (ordered/disordered, secure/insecure) coded using Cassidy and Marvin system.

Main Results:

  • Children with neglect history and disordered attachment exhibited heightened sympathetic reactivity.
  • Disordered attachment was associated with reduced vagal regulation during separation and reunion.
  • Relationship quality and neglect experiences influenced children's emotional regulation under stress.

Conclusions:

  • Quality of foster care relationships significantly impacts children's emotional regulation abilities.
  • Early adversity and disordered attachment patterns are linked to physiological dysregulation.
  • Interventions supporting secure attachment in foster care may improve children's stress response.

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