The Complex Associations Between Early Childhood Adversity, Heart Rate Variability, Cluster B Personality Disorders, and Aggression. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jankovic, Marija; Bogaerts, Stefan; Klein Tuente, Stéphanie; Garofalo, Carlo; Veling, Wim; van Boxtel, Geert
• Is Part Of: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology. Volume 65:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 899
• Page End: 915
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: forensic patients -- aggression -- early childhood adversity -- cluster B personality disorders -- heart rate variability -- structural equation modeling; Criminals -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Criminal psychology -- Periodicals; Violent offenders -- Periodicals; Sex offenders -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Periodicals; 364.3
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X20986537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-624X

Abstract

Early childhood adversity can cause an imbalance in the autonomic function, which may in turn lead to the development of trauma-spectrum disorders and aggressive behavior later in life. In the present study, we investigated the complex associations between early adversity, heart rate variability (HRV), cluster B personality disorders, and self-reported aggressive behavior in a group of 50 male forensic inpatients ( M age = 41.16; SD = 10.72). Structural Equation Modeling analysis revealed that patients with cluster B personality disorders were more likely to have adverse early childhood experiences and reduced sympathetic dominance in response to a threat than patients without cluster B personality disorders. In addition, HRV and cluster B personality disorders did not significantly mediate the association between early childhood adversity and self-reported aggressive behavior. These findings are important for clinical practice to facilitate specific treatment programs for those affected.