Cardiac vagal regulation and early peer status.
A sample of 341 5 (1/2) -year-old children participating in an ongoing longitudinal study was the focus of a study on the relation between cardiac vagal regulation and peer status. To assess cardiac vagal regulation, resting measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA change (suppression) to 3 cognitively and emotionally challenging tasks were derived. Results indicated that vagal regulation was positively associated with peer status. In addition, mediational analyses revealed that the relation between vagal regulation and peer status was mediated through better social skills for girls and better social skills and fewer behavior problems for boys. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of vagal regulation in the facilitation of children's positive social behavior.
Graziano
Paulo A
PA
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 27402, USA.
Keane
Susan P
SP
Calkins
Susan D
SD
D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012963:Sociometric Techniques; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*