Physiological and cognitive correlates of child abuse.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To compare the physiological responses of abused children to different stimuli with responses of children in a reference group and to correlate the physiological responses with intellectual and personality functioning. METHOD: Abused children were compared with a reference group on two batteries of tests that were administered on separate days. In one session, children were shown slides with emotional or cognitive content while heart rate, pulse height, skin conductance, electromyography, and skin temperature were measured. In the other session, intellectual and personality functioning was measured using the WISC-R, Quick Neurological Screening Test, and the Junior Eysenck personality inventory. RESULTS: Abused children had smaller changes in pulse height in the first two stimulus conditions presented ("No Signal" and "Math"), but their electrodermal responses were lower throughout all stimulus conditions. Abused children also had higher introversion and lower Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores. Verbal and Full Scale IQ scores were inversely related to the severity of abuse that had been experienced. When these variables were used in a discriminant function analysis, children were assigned to the correct group 86% of the time. CONCLUSION: These findings support a model that describes the effects of abuse as delaying cognitive development and inhibiting physiological responsiveness to the environment.