The Quadratic Association Between Resting Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and Adolescents’ Prosociality: The Moderating Role of Parental Marital Conflict

ABSTRACT Although both vagal regulation and parental marital conflict have been demonstrated to influence individuals’ prosociality, research on their interactive influences is almost silent, especially in adolescents. The present study examined the potential quadratic association between resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and adolescents’ prosociality and the moderating role of parental marital conflict in this association. Three hundred and twenty‐seven junior high school students ( M age = 13.24 years, SD = 0.47, 45.3% female) participated in this study. The Agreeableness Subscale from the NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale were administered to participants to assess their prosociality and parental marital conflict. The electrocardiogram (ECG) data were collected to calculate resting RSA during the resting state. Results indicated a significant quadratic association between resting RSA and adolescents’ prosociality, and parental marital conflict played a moderating role in this quadratic association. Specifically, under low and medium levels of parental marital conflict, the quadratic association between resting RSA and adolescents’ prosociality was significant, but it was not significant under high levels of parental marital conflict. The findings provide evidence for the quadratic association between resting RSA and prosociality, further deepening the understanding of the biopsychosocial foundations of prosociality.