Dynamic self‐regulation and coregulation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in mother–child and father–child interactions: Moderating effects of proximal and distal stressors

Abstract

This study examined how proximal and distal familial stressors influenced the real‐time, dynamic individual and dyadic regulation of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in mother–preschooler and father–preschooler interactions in at‐risk families (N = 94, Mage = 3.03 years, 47% males, 77% White, 20% Latinx, data collected 2013–2017). Proximal stressors were operationalized as changing task demands (baseline, challenge, recovery) across a dyadic puzzle task. Distal stressors were measured as parent‐reported stressful life events. Multilevel models revealed that greater proximal and distal stressors were related to weaker dynamic self‐regulation of RSA in mothers, fathers, and children, and more discordant mother–child and father–child coregulation of RSA. Findings affirm that stress is transmitted across levels and persons to compromise real‐time regulatory functioning in early, developmentally formative caregiver–child interactions.