Rutimann, Daniel (1/15) Reflective function as a moderator of the relationship between childhood trauma and skin conductance level (Kevin B. Meehan, Ph.D.; Philip S. Wong, Ph.D.; Nicholas Papouchis, Ph.D.)
The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the protective role of reflective function (RF) against the dysregulating impact of childhood trauma using a physiological measure of emotional dysregulation (i.e. skin conductance level). RF, or the capacity to identify mental states underlying the behavior of self and others, may serve a protective role against the negative psychological consequences of childhood trauma and promote psychological wellbeing throughout the lifespan. While previous studies have demonstrated a link between RF and psychological wellbeing, none have done so using implicit, physiological measures. In the present study, 125 undergraduate participants completed self-report measures of childhood trauma and were then administered the Brief Reflective Function Interview (BRFI), an abbreviated measure of RF, which assesses the subjects' reflective capacity in the context of close relationships. During administration of the BRFI, participants' skin conductance level (SCL) was monitored and recorded. The results of the study did not provide evidence of a moderating influence of RF in the relationship between childhood trauma and capacity for affect regulation. In addition, neither overall childhood trauma nor RF was significantly correlated with SCL. These findings may reflect a number of methodological and theoretical limitations that should be addressed in future studies. Specifically, future research should evaluate SCL changes in response to discrete events rather than continuous interviews. In addition, researchers should select RF measures that require participants to discuss conflictual relationships and more reliably induce attachment related stress.
