Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: Modeling longitudinal change from 6 weeks to 2 years of age among low ‐income Mexican Americans

This study characterized resting RSA change from 6 weeks to 2 years of age among 312 low‐income Mexican American infants. RSA was assessed longitudinally at 6, 12, 18, 24, 52, 78, and 104 weeks of age. On average, resting RSA increased as infants aged, and this change accelerated over time. There was significant variance between infants in resting RSA at 6 weeks of age, and in the slope, and acceleration of resting RSA change. Intraclass correlation among infants’ resting RSA measures was minimal, indicating that resting RSA may not be “trait‐like” during infancy. Results characterize early RSA development among a high‐risk sample, which can inform theoretical understanding of the development of emotional, and behavioral self‐regulation in a high‐risk population, as well as efforts to promote wellbeing across early childhood.
Source: Developmental Psychobiology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: BRIEF REPORT Source Type: research