Associations between narcissism and emotion regulation difficulties: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity as a moderator

In this study, we compared the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring to drawing as a means of distraction versus expression. Participants were 60 undergraduates who experienced an anxiety induction. We then randomly assigned them to color a design, draw a design (distract), or draw to express their negative thoughts and feelings. Anxiety was measured before and after the anxiety induction and after drawing. Heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and skin conductance were measured throughout the testing session. Finally, participants completed a flow and enjoyment questionnaire. All three activities reduced anxiety and decreased heart rate and increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia with no differences across conditions. Those in the draw a design condition enjoyed the activity more than those in the draw to express condition. We conclude that drawing, regardless of emotion regulation strategy used, reduces anxiety but that distracting graphic activities result in more enjoyment.

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Emotion regulation difficulties moderates the relation between respiratory sinus arrhythmia and depression

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e522252014-043 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Whitney N. Geller ◽

Mona Yaptangco ◽

Erik Hansen ◽

Sheila E. Crowell

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia

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Autonomic complexity and emotion (dys-)regulation in early childhood across high- and low-risk contexts

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579419000683 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 1173-1190

Author(s):

Daniel Berry ◽

Alyssa R. Palmer ◽

Rebecca Distefano ◽

Ann S. Masten

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Low Risk ◽

Developmental Task ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Stratified Sample ◽

Systems Models ◽

Using Data ◽

Vast Network

AbstractDeveloping the ability to regulate one's emotions in accordance with contextual demands (i.e., emotion regulation) is a central developmental task of early childhood. These processes are supported by the engagement of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), a physiological hub of a vast network tasked with dynamically integrating real-time experiential inputs with internal motivational and goal states. To date, much of what is known about the ANS and emotion regulation has been based on measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia, a cardiac indicator of parasympathetic activity. In the present study, we draw from dynamical systems models to introduce two nonlinear indices of cardiac complexity (fractality and sample entropy) as potential indicators of these broader ANS dynamics. Using data from a stratified sample of preschoolers living in high- (i.e., emergency homeless shelter) and low-risk contexts (N = 115), we show that, in conjunction with respiratory sinus arrhythmia, these nonlinear indices may help to clarify important differences in the behavioral manifestations of emotion regulation. In particular, our results suggest that cardiac complexity may be especially useful for discerning active, effortful emotion regulation from less effortful regulation and dysregulation.

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The contributions of early adverse experiences and trajectories of respiratory sinus arrhythmia on the development of neurobehavioral disinhibition among children with prenatal substance exposure

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s095457941400056x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (4pt1) ◽

pp. 901-916 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Elisabeth Conradt ◽

David Degarmo ◽

Phil Fisher ◽

Beau Abar ◽

Barry M. Lester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Early Adversity ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽

Prenatal Substance Exposure ◽

Substance Exposure ◽

Behavioral Dysregulation ◽

Wide Range ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

AbstractNeurobehavioral disinhibition (ND) is a complex condition reflecting a wide range of problems involving difficulties with emotion regulation and behavior control. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a physiological correlate of emotion regulation that has been studied in a variety of at-risk populations; however, there are no studies of RSA in children with ND. Data were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of prenatal substance exposure that included 1,073 participants. Baseline RSA and RSA reactivity to an attention-demanding task were assessed at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years. ND was assessed at ages 8/9, 11, and 13/14 years via behavioral dysregulation and executive dysfunction composite measures. Greater exposure to early adversity was related to less RSA reactivity at 3 years, increases in RSA reactivity from ages 3 to 6 years, and increased behavioral dysregulation from ages 8/9 to 13/14. RSA reactivity was examined as a moderator of the association between early adversity and changes in ND. A significant Early Adversity × RSA Reactivity quadratic interaction revealed that children with decelerations in RSA reactivity exhibited increases in behavioral dysregulation, regardless of their exposure to early adversity. However, greater exposure to early adversity was related to greater increases in behavioral dysregulation, but only if children exhibited accelerations in RSA reactivity from ages 3 to 6 years. The results contribute to our understanding of how interactions across multiple levels of analysis contribute to the development of ND.

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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity predicts emotion regulation and depressive symptoms in at-risk and control children

Biological Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.07.002 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 156-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

Amy L. Gentzler ◽

Aimee K. Santucci ◽

Maria Kovacs ◽

Nathan A. Fox

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

And Control

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Fathering across contexts: The moderating role of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in predicting toddler emotion regulation

Developmental Psychobiology ◽

10.1002/dev.21836 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 903-919 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Patricia A. Richardson ◽

Erika L. Bocknek ◽

Lucy McGoron ◽

Christopher J. Trentacosta

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Moderating Role

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Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, parenting, and externalizing behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361319848525 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 109-120

Author(s):

Jason K Baker ◽

Rachel M Fenning ◽

Stephen A Erath ◽

Brian R Baucom ◽

Daniel S Messinger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Children With Autism ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Positive Parenting ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Sinus Arrhythmia ◽

Negative Parenting

Children with autism spectrum disorder exhibit significant difficulties with emotion regulation. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is a biomarker for processes related to emotion regulation, with higher baseline rates linked to beneficial outcomes. Although reduction in respiratory sinus arrhythmia in response to challenge can index adaptive processes in community samples, excessive withdrawal may suggest loss of regulatory control among children with clinical concerns. Psychophysiological risk for problems may be protected against or exacerbated by parenting environments more or less supportive of the development of children’s regulatory competence. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia was examined in 61 children with autism spectrum disorder ages 6–10 years in relation to externalizing behavior, and parenting was considered as a moderator. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia was obtained during laboratory tasks, and positive parenting, negative parenting, and children’s externalizing behaviors were each indexed through multiple methods. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity interacted with negative, but not positive parenting. Higher respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity was associated with more externalizing behavior under conditions of higher negative parenting, but with lower externalizing behavior at lower levels of negative parenting. Similarly, negative parenting was only associated with externalizing behaviors in the context of high child respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity. Implications for our understanding of emotion regulation in children with autism spectrum disorder, and for related interventions, are discussed.

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