Investigating mechanisms of transgenerational transmission of childhood adversity: Behavioral and Physiological regulation in families at risk

儿童期虐待和忽视史(Hoan)通常会导致情绪和行为功能模式中断，并持续到成年，这些缺陷可能会增加下一代遭受虐待、忽视和情绪和行为功能不良的风险。专家们强调，必须在查明导致不良童年经历的风险因素和机制方面取得进展。基于我以前在该领域的工作，我的目标是从以下几个方面推进跨代传播的研究：首先，我将基于最先进的二元方法瞄准潜在的机制，专注于相互影响(父母的行为和生理对儿童行为和生理的影响，反之亦然)。其次，我将继续通过检查心血管功能和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质功能来推进对Hoan背景下的生理变量的检查。此外，我的目标是应用尖端设备，如功能性近红外光谱来评估前额叶皮质的活动。第三，我将把重点放在父母和孩子的行为和生理调节能力上，作为一种打破厌恶循环的兴趣机制。第四，通过提高我的统计学知识，我将针对结构的可操作性和用于回答研究问题的统计方法之间的差异。最后，我的研究目标是通过临床经验和我坚信科学应该指导实践来实现的。有关行为和生理的更广泛的证据基础将对传播过程产生更细微的理解，并有助于回答核心问题：传播或非传播的机制是什么？考虑到患有黄褐斑的父母风险更高，哪些因素可能会支持他们，即使是在生理水平上？关于风险和复原力、途径和结果的研究结果应该建立一个基础，通过这些基础可以识别处于危险中的家庭，并建立有效的预防和干预计划。

A history of childhood abuse and neglect (HoAN) often results in disrupted emotional and behavioral patterns of functioning that persist into adulthood, and these deficits may increase risk to suffer maltreatment, neglect and poor emotional and behavioral functioning for the next generation. Experts have emphasized the need to move forward in identifying risk factors and mechanisms leading to adverse childhood experiences. Based on my previous work in the field, my aim is to advance research on transgenerational transmission in the following ways: First, I will target potential mechanisms based on a state-of-the art dyadic approach focusing on reciprocal influences (parent behavior and physiology impacting on child behavior and physiology, and vice versa). Second, I will continue to advance the examination of physiological variables in context of HoAN by examining cardiovascular functioning and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical functioning. In addition, I aim at implementing cutting-edge devices such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy to assess prefrontal cortex activity. Third, I will put a focus on behavioral and physiological regulatory capacities in parents and children as a mechanism of interest to break the aversive cycle. Fourth, by advancing my statistical knowledge, I will target the discrepancy between operationalization of constructs and statistical methods used to answer research questions. Lastly, my research goals are informed by clinical experience and my strong belief that science should inform practice. A broadened evidence base regarding behavior and physiology will create a more nuanced understanding of transmission processes and help to answer core questions: What are the mechanisms of transmission or non-transmission? Considering a higher risk status of parents with HoAN, which factors might support them, even on a physiological level? Research findings on risk and resilience, on pathways and outcomes should build a foundation through which families at risk can be identified and effective prevention and intervention programs can be installed.