Dysregulated Fear, Social Inhibition, and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia: A Replication and Extension

Child Dev. 2018 May;89(3):e214-e228. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12774. Epub 2017 Mar 21.

Abstract

Behavioral inhibition indicates increased risk for development of social anxiety. Recent work has identified a pattern of dysregulated fear (DF), characterized by high fear in low-threat situations, that provides a more precise marker of developmental risk through early childhood. This study tested a new longitudinal sample of children (n = 124) from ages 24 to 48 months. Replicating prior findings, at 24 months, we identified a pattern of fearful behavior across contexts marked by higher fear to putatively low-threat situations. DF was associated with higher parental report of social inhibition at 24, 36, and 48 months. Extending prior findings, we observed differences in cardiac physiology during fear-eliciting situations, suggesting that the neurobiological underpinnings of DF relate to difficulty with regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child Behavior / physiology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fear / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / physiology*
  • Self-Control*
  • Social Behavior*