Physiological Regulation and Fearfulness as Predictors of Young Children's Empathy-related Reactions

Jeffrey Liew; Nancy Eisenberg; Tracy Spinrad; Natalie Wilkens; R. G. Haugen; Anne Kupfer; Mark Reiser; Cynthia L. Smith; Kathryn Lemery; Melinda E. Baham

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00575.x

Physiological Regulation and Fearfulness as Predictors of Young Children's Empathy-related Reactions

Jeffrey Liew, Nancy Eisenberg, Tracy Spinrad, Natalie Wilkens, R. G. Haugen, Anne Kupfer, Mark Reiser, Cynthia L. Smith, Kathryn Lemery, Melinda E. Baham

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

Indices of physiological regulation (i.e., resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and RSA suppression) and observed fearfulness were tested as predictors of empathy-related reactions to an unfamiliar person's simulated distress within and across 18 (T1, N = 247) and 30 (T2, N = 216) months of age. Controlling for T1 helping, high RSA suppression and low fearfulness at T1 predicted T2 helping. In a structural model, empathic concern was marginally positively related to resting RSA at both assessments whereas personal distress was related to RSA suppression within time (marginally positively at T1 and significantly negatively at T2). Fearfulness was associated with self-oriented, distress-related reactions within time. Comfort seeking (an index of personal distress) declined in mean level with age whereas helping increased, and both behaviors exhibited differential continuity (as did resting RSA). Individual, as well as developmental, differences in the types of reactions that young children exhibit when witnessing others' suffering and distress were discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	111-134
Number of pages	24
Journal	Social Development
Volume	20
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00575.x
State	Published - Feb 2011

Keywords

Emotion regulation
Empathy
Fear
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Sociology and Political Science
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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10.1111/j.1467-9507.2010.00575.x

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title = "Physiological Regulation and Fearfulness as Predictors of Young Children's Empathy-related Reactions",

abstract = "Indices of physiological regulation (i.e., resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and RSA suppression) and observed fearfulness were tested as predictors of empathy-related reactions to an unfamiliar person's simulated distress within and across 18 (T1, N = 247) and 30 (T2, N = 216) months of age. Controlling for T1 helping, high RSA suppression and low fearfulness at T1 predicted T2 helping. In a structural model, empathic concern was marginally positively related to resting RSA at both assessments whereas personal distress was related to RSA suppression within time (marginally positively at T1 and significantly negatively at T2). Fearfulness was associated with self-oriented, distress-related reactions within time. Comfort seeking (an index of personal distress) declined in mean level with age whereas helping increased, and both behaviors exhibited differential continuity (as did resting RSA). Individual, as well as developmental, differences in the types of reactions that young children exhibit when witnessing others' suffering and distress were discussed.",

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AU - Wilkens, Natalie

AU - Haugen, R. G.

AU - Kupfer, Anne

AU - Reiser, Mark

AU - Smith, Cynthia L.

AU - Lemery, Kathryn

AU - Baham, Melinda E.

PY - 2011/2

Y1 - 2011/2

N2 - Indices of physiological regulation (i.e., resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and RSA suppression) and observed fearfulness were tested as predictors of empathy-related reactions to an unfamiliar person's simulated distress within and across 18 (T1, N = 247) and 30 (T2, N = 216) months of age. Controlling for T1 helping, high RSA suppression and low fearfulness at T1 predicted T2 helping. In a structural model, empathic concern was marginally positively related to resting RSA at both assessments whereas personal distress was related to RSA suppression within time (marginally positively at T1 and significantly negatively at T2). Fearfulness was associated with self-oriented, distress-related reactions within time. Comfort seeking (an index of personal distress) declined in mean level with age whereas helping increased, and both behaviors exhibited differential continuity (as did resting RSA). Individual, as well as developmental, differences in the types of reactions that young children exhibit when witnessing others' suffering and distress were discussed.

AB - Indices of physiological regulation (i.e., resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA] and RSA suppression) and observed fearfulness were tested as predictors of empathy-related reactions to an unfamiliar person's simulated distress within and across 18 (T1, N = 247) and 30 (T2, N = 216) months of age. Controlling for T1 helping, high RSA suppression and low fearfulness at T1 predicted T2 helping. In a structural model, empathic concern was marginally positively related to resting RSA at both assessments whereas personal distress was related to RSA suppression within time (marginally positively at T1 and significantly negatively at T2). Fearfulness was associated with self-oriented, distress-related reactions within time. Comfort seeking (an index of personal distress) declined in mean level with age whereas helping increased, and both behaviors exhibited differential continuity (as did resting RSA). Individual, as well as developmental, differences in the types of reactions that young children exhibit when witnessing others' suffering and distress were discussed.

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KW - Fear

KW - Respiratory sinus arrhythmia

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Physiological Regulation and Fearfulness as Predictors of Young Children's Empathy-related Reactions

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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