Preschool children's high‐frequency heart rate variability during low and high emotional challenge in relation to their self‐regulation

Abstract

AbstractHigh‐frequency heart rate variability (hf‐HRV) theoretically provides a biomarker for self‐regulation, although studies with young children offer mixed findings regarding the relevance of emotional demands in this link. We aimed to describe variation in children's hf‐HRV during tasks with relatively high and low emotional load and to determine the relation of hf‐HRV during these tasks to different behavioural measures of children's self‐regulation. Electrocardiograms were recorded in 80 3–5‐year‐olds (M = 57 months; 54% male, 47% female; 87% White, 8% mixed/other race, 2% African American/Black, 1% were Asian and 1% Hispanic/Latinx) whilst they completed a Go/No‐go task with low emotional load and an emotionally challenging Delay Frustration task. Mean hf‐HRV was similar across these tasks, although it increased during a between‐task rest interval. Accounting for age, gender and caregiver education, hf‐HRV during the Go/No‐go task correlated with task performance, whereas hf‐HRV during the emotional task correlated with caregiver‐reported regulation (Psuedo R2 = 03–0.05). Greater hf‐HRV withdrawal during the tasks correlated with weaker Go/No performance and increased behavioural frustration (Psuedo R2 = 0.08–0.13). Children's maintenance of hf‐HRV during emotional and cognitive challenges may support their effective self‐regulation.