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Low autonomic arousal as vulnerability to externalising behaviour in infants with hostile mothers

Bram Dierckx1, Joke H M Tulen, Anne Tharner

  • 1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, The Netherlands.

Psychiatry Research
|May 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Maternal psychopathology and infant autonomic nervous system functioning predict toddler aggression. Mothers with high psychiatric issues, especially hostility, had more aggressive toddlers, particularly with low autonomic arousal.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Psychophysiology
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Maternal psychopathology is a known risk factor for child aggression.
  • The role of the child's autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning in early aggression is less understood.
  • Potential interactions between maternal psychopathology and ANS functioning in predicting child aggression require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal psychiatric symptoms and toddler aggressive behavior.
  • To investigate the relationship between infant autonomic nervous system functioning and toddler aggressive behavior.
  • To explore the interaction between maternal psychopathology and infant ANS functioning in predicting toddler aggression.

Main Methods:

  • A sample of 375 mother-infant dyads was recruited.
  • Maternal psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory.
  • Infant heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded at 14 months; toddler aggression was measured using the Child Behaviour Checklist.

Main Results:

  • Maternal psychiatric problems, including hostility and depression, were significantly associated with toddler aggressive behavior.
  • Maternal psychiatric problems interacted with infant mean heart rate and high-frequency (HF) HRV in predicting toddler aggression.
  • Mothers reporting high psychiatric symptoms, particularly hostility, had toddlers with higher aggression scores.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal psychopathology is linked to increased aggressive behavior in toddlers.
  • Infant autonomic nervous system functioning, specifically heart rate and HF HRV, moderates this association.
  • Children with mothers experiencing high psychiatric distress and exhibiting low autonomic arousal are particularly vulnerable to developing aggressive behaviors.

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