ABSTRACT

Childhood experiences of early life stress and adversity can lead to long-term detrimental outcomes across the lifespan. Recent evidence suggests avoiding stressors is not enough for species-typical development. Nurturing and responsive care are needed to both buffer adverse experiences as well as promote healthy development, but little is known regarding the interaction between species-typical environmental support in childhood, Evolved Developmental Niche history (EDN-history), and adversity on physiological regulation in adult women. To investigate the interaction between species-typical nurturing and adversity (ACEs, adverse childhood experiences), women (N = 113) were asked to report on EDN-history and ACEs. Physiological regulation was measured using respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) across three conditions that included stress and relaxation. Applying latent basis coefficient modeling, EDN-history moderated vagal withdrawal from baseline to stress and supported vagal activation from stress to recovery, suggesting a link between EDN-history and vagal adaptability. EDN-history acted as a buffer against ACEs on physiological regulation supporting women’s vagal adaptability across differing conditions. Physiological adaptability is a key component of physical and psychological wellbeing and resilience. Experiences of the EDN in childhood may not only buffer adversity but also support the physiological building blocks of health and resilience.

摘要

早期生活压力和逆境的童年经历可能会导致整个生命周期的长期有害结果。最近的证据表明，避免压力源对于物种典型的发展是不够的。需要培育和响应式护理来缓冲不良经历并促进健康发展，但对于儿童时期典型的环境支持、进化的发育生态位历史 (EDN-history) 和逆境生理调节之间的相互作用知之甚少。成年女性。为了调查物种典型的养育和逆境（ACE，不良童年经历）之间的相互作用，女性（N = 113) 被要求报告 EDN 历史和 ACE。在包括压力和放松在内的三种情况下，使用呼吸性窦性心律失常 (RSA) 测量生理调节。应用潜在基础系数模型，EDN 历史缓和了从基线到压力的迷走神经退缩，并支持从压力到恢复的迷走神经激活，表明 EDN 历史和迷走神经适应性之间存在联系。EDN 历史可作为 ACE 在生理调节上的缓冲，支持女性在不同条件下的迷走神经适应性。生理适应性是身心健康和恢复力的关键组成部分。儿童时期 EDN 的经历不仅可以缓冲逆境，还可以支持健康和复原力的生理构造块。