Awardee: Annabel Sibalis
Supervisor: Brendan Andrade
Title: Deconstructing dysregulation: An examination of parent and child factors associated with the development of behavioural dysregulation in children
Lay Abstract: Behavioural dysregulation (BD) – aggression, impulsivity, and other behaviour harmful to oneself or others – is a core symptom of multiple mental disorders including attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and disruptive behaviour disorders. BD is among the most common reasons for a child’s referral to mental health services and a concerning risk factor for later delinquency, substance use disorders, and suicide. In order to improve life outcomes for children with BD and develop approaches to bolster children’s ability to effectively self-regulate, it is necessary to determine its etiology.
Existing research and theory have linked executive functions (EF) – higher order cognitive skills such as attention, impulse control, and emotion regulation – to behavioural regulation. However, minimal research has examined specific mechanisms through which EF impacts BD, including investigating the role of parent factors such as parent EF and parenting behaviour. The current study addresses these gaps in knowledge.
This study will recruit clinically-referred children ages 6-12 with varying levels of BD and their parents, and typically-developing control children and parents. Computer tasks will be administered to children to measure EF (i.e., attention and impulse control). Emotion regulation will be measured by heart rate variability captured via a heart rate measurement system. Parents will complete questionnaires assessing parenting strategies and child BD symptoms, and will track child BD for two weeks after assessment.
By clarifying how BD develops and the key factors involved, this research will spark opportunities for novel clinical interventions for children with BD and their parents, improving developmental trajectories for children and decreasing the disability associated with BD.