ANXIETY, ANTISOCIAL-BEHAVIOR, AND HEART-RATE REGULATION IN ADOLESCENTMALES

We explored relationships between anxiety and antisocial behavior and autonomic heart rate regulation in a homogenous sample (N = 175) of 15 -year-old males. Measures of anxiety and antisocial behavior were obta ined at yearly intervals over a period of 4-6 years. Components of hea rt rate variability associated with postural (sympathetic) and respira tory (vagal) change and transfer of respiratory to heart rate variabil ity were estimated at age 15 using spectral analytic techniques. Anxie ty and antisocial behavior were predictably related to enhanced and di minished levels of mean heart rate, respectively. Anxiety was also pre dictably related to enhanced sympathetic mediation of phasic postural effects on heart rate. Antisocial behavior was unexpectedly related to disruption of vagally mediated, phasic respiratory effects on heart r ate. Anxiety and antisocial behavior showed distinct relationships to heart rate, and to the autonomically mediated components of heart rate variability from postural and respiratory sources. Spectral analytic techniques helped elucidate these unique regulatory patterns, suggesti ng utility for future research in this area.