Proactive and Reactive Aggression, Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia, and Sleep in Adolescents

<p>Current research evaluating the relationship between proactive and reactive aggression, sleep, and autonomic dysfunction has shown inconsistencies. The unique etiologies, manifestations, and presentation of these two aggressive subtypes have garnered much speculation, and research has shown mixed, and oftentimes conflicting, results. Generally speaking, insufficient sleep has been linked to increased agitation, cognitive impairment, emotional dysregulation, and poorer physical health. Many studies have provided support for an inverse relationship existing between sleep problems and sympathovagal health, implicating hypo- or hyper-autonomic function with proactive and reactive aggression, respectively. Concurrently and conflictingly, additional research has shown support for the exact opposite relationships between sleep problems and sympathovagal health, while some has also suggested that no significant correlations exist at all. The current study aimed to explore this further, investigating if respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a biomarker for emotion regulation and parasympathetic-mediated cardiac activity, was mediating the relationship between sleep and aggression among a sample of adolescents. The results of the study revealed that although sleep problems were positively associated with both types of aggression, no significant relationship were found between RSA and either sleep or aggression.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Master

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Cognitive Neuroscience

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Brasch, Allison L

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yu Gao

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• reactive aggression
• proactive aggression
• sleep
• respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3802

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-4925