Problems in Emotion Awareness As a Pathway From Physiological Regulation to Parenting Practices in Reintegrating Military Families

Reintegration following military deployment is a family stressor. This period is often characterized by marital and parenting stressors (Khaylis, Polusny, Erbes, Gewirtz, & Rath, 2011) and difficulties with emotion regulation (ER) in service members (such as anxiety, depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). Deployment and reintegration are also stressful for nondeployed parents, as they face fear and uncertainty about their loved ones, along with shifting parenting responsibilities (Gewirtz, Erbes, Polusny, Forgatch & DeGarmo, 2011). Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are a concern for both service member and their partners. Emotion regulation is a multi-dimensional process that includes cognition, physiology, and behavior (Lang, 1994). Cardiac vagal control (CVC) is a physiological index of autonomic flexibility (Santucci et. al., 2008) which supports ER by through its potentiation of a variety of adaptive behavioral responses. Furthermore, ER is a critical aspect of skillful parenting. 

ADAPT is randomized control trial of an intervention for reintegrating military families.  In addition to teaching healthy parenting skills, ADAPT targets emotion regulation in the context of parenting. Baseline CVC, self-reported parenting practices, and emotion regulation were assessed in 105 parents participating in ADAPT.  Linear regression was used to examine the extent to which CVC predicts parenting practices through emotional awareness. 

As expected, CVC was correlated with problems with emotional awareness r = -.20, p = .05.  Problems in emotional awareness, in turn, were negatively correlated with positive involvement with children r = -.28, p = .01 and positively correlated with use of inconsistent discipline r = .28, p = .01.  Regression analyses supported an indirect relationship from vagal tone to parenting practices through emotional awareness ps < .05.  

Emotional awareness is a fundamental aspect of emotion regulation that supports skillful parenting practices (Gottman, Katz & Hooven, 1997). This study contributes to a better understanding of the cognitive and physiological underpinnings of emotion regulation in the context of parenting. Little is known about the impact of psychosocial interventions on physiological aspects of emotion regulation. Further research is needed to understand the relation of CVC and other physiological markers to intervention outcomes. This study provides empirical support for the importance of autonomic flexibility as a mechanism that supports positive parenting behaviors. Findings lend preliminary support for interventions that aim to augment emotional awareness in military families and instill behavioral practices that can enhance autonomic flexibility and promote adaptive interpersonal behaviors.