ABSTRACT

In this study, we sought to expand on what is currently known regarding autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity in middle childhood as a function of attachment. ANS activity includes multiple indices – respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is an index of parasympathetic nervous system activation (PNS) and electrodermal activity (EDA) is an index of sympathetic nervous system activation (SNS). Children (N = 103) completed Child Attachment Interviews and read vignettes describing situations aimed to activate attachment needs (NEED; e.g., getting hurt, which can elicit need for comfort or assistance) and help-seeking (HS; when children experience need and seek comfort from attachment figures), while SNS and PNS reactivity were monitored. Attachment was not associated with children’s SNS or PNS reactivity during NEED, but attachment was associated with physiological reactivity during HS: Dismissing attachment was associated with greater SNS activation (higher EDA) and preoccupied attachment with PNS deactivation (lower RSA, greater vagal withdrawal) during HS.

摘要

在这项研究中，我们试图扩展目前已知的关于儿童中期自主神经系统 (ANS) 反应性作为依恋功能的知识。ANS 活动包括多个指标——呼吸性窦性心律失常 (RSA) 是副交感神经系统激活 (PNS) 的指标，皮肤电活动 (EDA) 是交感神经系统激活 (SNS) 的指标。儿童 ( ñ= 103) 完成儿童依恋访谈并阅读描述旨在激活依恋需求（需要；例如，受伤，这可能引起对安慰或帮助的需要）和寻求帮助（HS；当儿童经历需要并从依恋中寻求安慰）的情境的小插曲图），同时监测 SNS 和 PNS 反应性。在 NEED 期间依恋与儿童的 SNS 或 PNS 反应性无关，但依恋与 HS 期间的生理反应相关：解除依恋与更大的 SNS 激活（更高的 EDA）和全神贯注的依恋与 PNS 失活（更低的 RSA，更大的迷走神经退缩）相关HS。