Measurement of heart rate variability and cognitive abilities based on attachment styles in children with chronic medical conditions

Fahime Ghafarimoghadam,Fateme Dehghani-Arani

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-41812-y

Fahime Ghafarimoghadam, Fateme Dehghani-Arani

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41812-y

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Journal: Scientific Reports	Publication Date: Mar 27, 2019
Citations: 1	License type: open-access

Affiliation: University of Tehran

Abstract

Recognizing the biopsychosocial dimensions of chronic medical conditions in children and preparing them to adapt to medical processes is one of the most significant issues in the field of health psychology. The aim of this study was to measure heart rate variability and cognitive abilities based on attachment style in children with chronic medical conditions. To this end, 45 children aged 12–15 years who had received a diagnosis of a chronic medical disease and were matched with the inclusion/exclusion criteria, were entered the study using available sampling method. These children were assigned to three groups of secure, avoidance and anxiety attachment style based on the Collins and Reid Attachment Scale. These groups had been demographically homogeneous. Then heart rate variability and cognitive abilities were measured. One-way ANOVA results showed a significant difference between the three groups in the heart rate variability and cognitive abilities. Post hoc test showed that children with secure attachment style had higher efficiency in heart rate variability and cognitive abilities. These results indicate that attachment style is one of the factors influencing the health status of children with chronic medical illness. These findings highlight the importance of paying attention to psychological factors, especially attachment and its role in the health status of children with chronic medical conditions.

Highlights

With the development of theoretical foundations in health psychology, the focus of many studies is on the areas of child health, including the recognition of the psychosocial dimensions of chronic medical conditions
In order to evaluate the research hypotheses, the subscales parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), including resting heartbeat and respiration rate were evaluated in three groups of children with secure, avoidant and anxious attachment styles
Assessment of the attachment styles, heart rate variability and cognitive abilities in a sample of children with chronic medical condition showed that there is a significant relationship between attachment styles and cardiac and cognitive functions

Summary

Introduction

With the development of theoretical foundations in health psychology, the focus of many studies is on the areas of child health, including the recognition of the psychosocial dimensions of chronic medical conditions. The stressors of the chronic diseases, challenge individuals and affect psychophysiological responses such as secure responses and cardiovascular functions too. In this regard, heart rate variability (HRV) is an important indicator of anxiety, emotional regulation and health[13]. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between childhood injuries such as physical disease, non-primary caregiving and neglect with smaller hippocampal volume and lower cognitive ability during adolescence[21] and these children are more vulnerable to psychological damage because of the weakness in the ability to solve the problem[22]

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