Date of Award

12-1-2023

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

College/School/Department

Department of Psychology

Dissertation/Thesis Chair

Elana Gordis

Committee Members

Drew Anderson, Betty Lin

Keywords

Autonomic Nervous System, Childhood Maltreatment, Empathy

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment has a well-established link to both physical and psychological detriments later in life. Specifically, maltreatment has been found to be associated with changes in physiological functioning and increased aggressive behavior. Despite the well understood link with aggressive behavior, few studies have focused on the effects childhood maltreatment has on empathetic and prosocial behavior. Experienced adversity is theorized to increase one’s tendencies to adopt perspective and to feel a sense of responsibility for another’s welfare (Lim & DeSento, 2016). This study aims to examine how baseline autonomic functioning of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system moderate the relationship between early childhood maltreatment and trait empathy in early adulthood. Participants were 94 undergraduate students at a large state university. Participants completed questionnaires examining trait-empathy and instances of childhood maltreatment. We monitored baseline sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activation via skin conductance levels and respiratory sinus arrythmia, respectively. Regression analysis suggests that baseline parasympathetic nervous system activation moderates the relationship between childhood physical maltreatment and trait empathy. Higher levels of baseline parasympathetic activation are associated with higher levels of trait empathy in those who experienced physical maltreatment. High baseline parasympathetic activation may act as a protective factor in those who experienced physical maltreatment during childhood, specifically regarding empathetic behavior.

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