Emotional Experience, Physiological Reactivity, and Psychological Difficulties during middle childhood: a pilot study

Introduction Many studies linked expression and regulation of emotions as transdiagnostic variables involved in the emergence psychopathological disorders. However, few investigated such processes during middle childhood, a critical period life defined by significant psychological, physical, social changes. Objectives Explore relationship between child’s emotion – both emotional subjective experience physiological reactivity psychological difficulties. Methods 20 children (M age =10.7, SD=1.25; 65% males) their mothers were recruited from general population. Emotion was assessed with (1) How I Feel (HIF) Positive Negative Affect questionnaires (PANAS) (2) Heart Rate (i.e., Beats Per Minute, BPM) Variability High Frequency Low ratio, LF/HF). Child’s difficulties measured parent report Child Behavioral Checklist 6-18 (CBCL-6/18). Results Statistically correlations emerged HIF-Positive scale externalizing ( rs = -.51) internalizing -.46) difficulties; HIF-Negative .49); LF/HF (rs -.58). Finally, non-significant but moderate effect found .33). Conclusions Although limited number participants, data suggest an interesting role played on reported mothers. More specifically, positive is associated fewer difficulties, while negative illustrates opposite relationship, implying relevance looking at understanding Moreover, ratio labeled sympathovagal balance seems like it might be higher less doubts about interpretation, several share this view showing decrease autonomic problems, depression, adults. Overall, our preliminary results underline importance studying outcomes childhood connected to processes. Disclosure Interest None Declared