Key result
Maternal antisocial behavior significantly predicted offspring antisocial behavior (β = 0.36), but offspring resting heart rate did not mediate or moderate this intergenerational transmission.
Why the study?
Low resting heart rate is an established risk factor for antisocial behavior, but research investigating its role in the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior is limited.
Does offspring resting heart rate mediate or moderate the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior from mother to child?
Cohort (n=129)
No
Does offspring resting heart rate mediate or moderate the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior from mother to child?
Effect estimate: B = 2.32 (95% CI 1.25-3.39)
p-value: p=<0.001
Offspring resting heart rate does not appear to mediate or moderate the intergenerational transmission of antisocial behavior from mother to child in this community sample.
Should not yet change practice; leaves open whether RHR mediates or moderates ASB transmission in higher-powered or higher-risk samples.
Parental antisocial behavior (ASB) is a risk factor for ASB in the next generation. While social and environmental mechanisms contribute to this relationship, research also supports the influence of genetic components. A low resting heart rate (RHR) is moderately heritable and a well-established risk factor that may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of ASB. However, research investigating this relationship is limited. The overarching aim of the current study was to examine the influence of RHR in the intergenerational transmission of ASB from parent to child. Three minutes of RHR was collected on 129 girls and boys at age 9–10 years, alongside maternal ASB. At the age of 14–15 years, data on offspring ASB were collected using the externalizing scale of the Youth Self-Report. Results showed that maternal ASB predicted offspring ASB (B = 2.36, β = 0.36, t = 4.28, p < .001). However, offspring RHR did not mediate or moderate this relationship. Findings indicate that RHR is not a biological marker of risk in the intergenerational transmission of ASB in this community sample, although the results may be influenced by low statistical power.
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A 2026 study conducted a cohort in Antisocial behavior (n=129). Maternal antisocial behavior and offspring resting heart rate vs. Lower levels of maternal antisocial behavior / higher resting heart rate was evaluated on Offspring antisocial behavior at age 14-15 (B = 2.32, 95% CI 1.25-3.39, p=<0.001). Maternal antisocial behavior significantly predicted offspring antisocial behavior (β = 0.36), but offspring resting heart rate did not mediate or moderate this intergenerational transmission.
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