Empathic responsivity at 3 years of age in a sample of cocaine-exposed children.
This study examined the association between prenatal exposure to cocaine and behavioral and physiological responsivity. Participants were 216 mother-infant dyads (116 cocaine exposed-CE, 100 nonexposed-NCE) recruited at birth. Measures of heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were obtained during baseline and during a task designed to elicit empathy (exposure to infant crying). When the effects of prenatal cocaine use were examined in the context of polydrug use, results of model testing indicated that lower gestational age, prenatal exposure to cocaine and postnatal exposure to alcohol were each associated with a reduced suppression of RSA during the empathy task. These findings provide additional support for an association between prenatal cocaine exposure and dysregulation during early childhood during affect-eliciting environmental challenges.
Department of Psychology, State University of New York College at Buffalo, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222-1095, United States; Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States; Department of Pediatrics, SUNY University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address: schuetp@buffalostate.edu.
Pamela
P
Schuetze
Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States; Department of Pediatrics, SUNY University at Buffalo School of Medicine, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address: eiden@ria.buffalo.edu.
Rina D
RD
Eiden
Research Institute on Addictions, SUNY University at Buffalo, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, United States. Electronic address: dmolnar@ria.buffalo.edu.
Danielle S
DS
Molnar
Department of Psychology, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States. Electronic address: ccolder@buffalo.edu.
Craig D
CD
Colder
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004645:Empathy / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
D003042:Cocaine
Empathy; Heart rate; Prenatal cocaine exposure; Regulation; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia