Prior researchers have observed relations between children's autonomic nervous system reactivity and externalizing behavior problems, but rarely considers the role of developmentally regulated changes in children's stress response systems. Using growth mixture modeling, the present study derived profiles of parasympathetic nervous system reactivity (as indicated by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)) and sympathetic nervous system reactivity (as indicated by pre-ejection period (PEP)) from low income, primarily Mexican American children measured repeatedly from infancy through age 5 (N = 383) and investigated whether profiles were associated with externalizing problems at age 7. Analyses identified two profiles of RSA reactivity (reactive decreasing and U-shaped reactivity) and three profiles of PEP reactivity (blunted/anticipatory reactivity, reactive decreasing, non-reactive increasing). Compared to children with an RSA profile of reactive decreasing, those with an RSA profile of U-shaped reactivity had marginally higher externalizing problems, however, this difference was not statistically significant. Children who demonstrated a profile of blunted/anticipatory PEP reactivity had significantly higher externalizing problems compared to those with a profile of non-reactive increasing, likely related to the predominantly male composition of the former profile and predominantly female composition of the latter profile. Findings contribute to our understanding of developmental trajectories of ANS reactivity and highlight the utility of a longitudinal framework for understanding the effects of physiological risk factors on later behavior problems.

中文翻译：

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生命早期儿童自主神经系统反应性的潜在特征预测后来的外化问题

先前的研究人员已经观察到儿童自主神经系统反应性与外化行为问题之间的关系，但很少考虑发育调节变化在儿童压力反应系统中的作用。使用生长混合物模型，本研究从低收入人群（主要是墨西哥裔美国人）中得出副交感神经系统反应性（如呼吸性窦性心律失常 (RSA) 所示）和交感神经系统反应性（如射血前期 (PEP) 所示）的概况从婴儿期到 5 岁（N  = 383）的儿童反复测量，并调查了 7 岁时是否与外化问题相关。分析确定了 RSA 反应性的两个特征（反应性降低和U 形反应性）和 PEP 反应性的三种曲线（钝化/预期反应性、反应性降低、非反应性增加）。与具有反应性下降RSA 特征的儿童相比，具有U 形反应性RSA 特征的儿童外化问题略高，但是，这种差异没有统计学意义。与非反应性增加的儿童相比，表现出迟钝/预期PEP 反应性特征的儿童具有显着更高的外化问题，可能与前者的主要男性构成和后者的主要女性构成有关。研究结果有助于我们理解 ANS 反应性的发展轨迹，并强调纵向框架在理解生理危险因素对后来行为问题的影响方面的效用。