Young adults who experienced child abuse and neglect (CAN) are at significant risk for callous-unemotional traits and substance use problems. Research shows that compromised self-regulation may increase risk for these maladaptive outcomes. In the present cross-sectional study, we examined the moderating role of self-regulation, indexed by heart rate variability reactivity, in the indirect link between CAN and alcohol and other drug use problems via callous-unemotional traits. We utilized a sample of mostly female undergraduate students (N = 130, 81% Female; M age = 20.72). We hypothesized that (a) CAN and alcohol or other drug use problems would be associated indirectly via elevations in callous-unemotional traits, and (b) that this indirect association would be exacerbated by elevated heart rate variability reactivity. Results indicated that increased callous-unemotional traits underlain in the link between CAN and alcohol or other drug use problems. Further, this indirect link was exacerbated among youth with elevated heart rate variability reactivity. These findings have significant implications for prevention by demonstrating that physiological self-regulation is important to target in substance use prevention among collegiate samples.

中文翻译：

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虐待和忽视儿童、冷酷无情的特质和物质使用问题：压力反应反应的调节作用

经历过儿童虐待和忽视 (CAN) 的年轻人面临着冷酷无情的特征和药物滥用问题的重大风险。研究表明，自我调节受损可能会增加这些适应不良结果的风险。在目前的横断面研究中，我们检查了自我调节的调节作用，以心率变异反应性为指标，通过冷酷无情的特征在 CAN 与酒精和其他药物使用问题之间的间接联系中发挥调节作用。我们使用了一个主要是女本科生的样本（N = 130，81% 是女性；M 年龄 = 20.72）。我们假设 (a) CAN 和酒精或其他药物使用问题将通过冷酷无情特征的升高间接相关，并且 (b) 这种间接关联会因心率变异性反应性升高而加剧。结果表明，在 CAN 与酒精或其他吸毒问题之间的联系中，增加了冷酷无情的特征。此外，这种间接联系在心率变异性反应性升高的年轻人中更为严重。这些发现通过证明生理自我调节对于大学样本中物质使用预防的目标很重要，因此对预防具有重要意义。