Child Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring for Identifying the Health Effects of Early Life Stress
Tracks
Online Only
| Tuesday, March 21, 2023 |
| 1:15 PM - 1:35 PM |
Overview
Rachel Venn, University of Canberra
Speaker
Rachel Venn
PhD Candidate
University Of Canberra
Child Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring for Identifying the Health Effects of Early Life Stress
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) affects child development in behavioural, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical domains. ELS is associated with the development of mental health disorders throughout the lifespan with first symptoms occurring during childhood. Disrupted autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, measured via heart rate variability (HRV), could be a mechanism through which ELS is linked with the development of mental health disorders. Thus, the measurement of HRV presents a promising target for the early detection and prevention of disease.
Military and first responder (MFR) families represent a subpopulation that offers the unique possibility to investigate the impact of ELS on children. Characteristics of their profession include repeated exposure to acute and highly traumatic events, and chronic occupational and environmental exposures, potentially having deleterious effects on mental and physical health.
While the special needs of MFR populations, including access to diagnostically sound assessment and treatment of physical and mental health issues are increasingly recognized, relatively little is known about potential consequences for other family members of MFR, especially their children.
Children living in MFR families could be similarly exposed to an increased number of stressors, presenting a subpopulation at risk for developmental disruptions affecting physiological function and mental health. These children offer a unique opportunity to study early alterations in ANS activity associated with ELS. Our research group is currently measuring HRV in this population with the focus of our research to:
1) Determine the reliability and feasibility of measuring HRV for identifying ANS health in children.
2) Provide an integrated understanding of the etiology, progression, and treatment response profiles of mental health disorders in response to ELS through monitoring the HRV in children living in MFR families.
3) Investigate the effects of individualized interventions (eg. exercise training) on ANS activity and mental health in children living in MFR families.
Military and first responder (MFR) families represent a subpopulation that offers the unique possibility to investigate the impact of ELS on children. Characteristics of their profession include repeated exposure to acute and highly traumatic events, and chronic occupational and environmental exposures, potentially having deleterious effects on mental and physical health.
While the special needs of MFR populations, including access to diagnostically sound assessment and treatment of physical and mental health issues are increasingly recognized, relatively little is known about potential consequences for other family members of MFR, especially their children.
Children living in MFR families could be similarly exposed to an increased number of stressors, presenting a subpopulation at risk for developmental disruptions affecting physiological function and mental health. These children offer a unique opportunity to study early alterations in ANS activity associated with ELS. Our research group is currently measuring HRV in this population with the focus of our research to:
1) Determine the reliability and feasibility of measuring HRV for identifying ANS health in children.
2) Provide an integrated understanding of the etiology, progression, and treatment response profiles of mental health disorders in response to ELS through monitoring the HRV in children living in MFR families.
3) Investigate the effects of individualized interventions (eg. exercise training) on ANS activity and mental health in children living in MFR families.
Biography
Rachel is a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and PhD candidate whose research is aiming to improve early intervention and management of mental health in young people.
Rachel is a PhD Candidate and Clinical Exercise Physiologist. She has worked with adults and children, with her latest role as a Clinical Educator overseeing Exercise Physiology students running a program for overweight or obese school aged children, which focused on behaviour change and physical activity. The program was successful in receiving funding from the Canberra Hospital Foundation which has enabled it to be more accessible to vulnerable families. Rachel has a Bachelor of Human Movement Science, Graduate Certificate in Pain Management, Certificate in Paediatric Exercise Physiology and is a current Exercise and Sport Science Australia course accreditation panel member.
