Role of Ethnicity and Environment on Regulation of Response Towards Sensory Stimulation in Children
Condition: Children; Behavior
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Difference in autonomic nervous system processes across cultural and ethnic groups was
      suggested and autonomic regulation differentiation may occur even at an early age. However,
      the role of ethnicity and environment on regulation of response towards sensory stimulation
      in children is not well understood yet. This research aims to compare the autonomic activity
      at resting condition and toward a block of auditory stimulation between typically developing
      children from different countries and living environments. There will be two phases in this
      study. In Phase I, two groups of participants will be recruited: (a) 32 typically-developing
      Chinese children living in Hong Kong, (HK group) and (b) 32 typically developing Filipino
      children living in Hong Kong (Fil-HK group). In phase II, two groups of participants will be
      recruited: (a) 32 typically-developing Filipino children who are living at Urban area (PH-U
      group), and (b) 32 typically developing Filipino children who are living at Philippines-Rural
      area (PH-R group). Participants will be composed of males and females ages 7-12 years old,
      and without known history of developmental disabilities, medical history of cardiac or
      pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory deficits. Recruited
      participants will watch a silent movie, and listen to a block of sound. Autonomic activity
      (heart rate variability and electrodermal activity) will be measured and recorded using Polar
      H2 heart rate monitor and eSense skin response. Recordings will be screened for ectopic beats
      of HRV or bursts of EDA. The HRV and EDA signals will be processed by using aHRV and the
      eSense propriety software, respectively, and according to the standards of editing HRV and
      EDA artefacts. Autonomic activity (LF, HF and EDA) at resting condition, and hypothesis
      interaction between conditions (resting condition vs. auditory stimulation) and groups (HK
      group and PH-U group; Fil-HK group and PH-U group; PH-U group vs. PH-R group) will be tested
      with repeated measures of MANOVA. All significant levels will be set at p≤ 0.05. This study
      will increase the understanding on the role of culture and environment in the regulation of
      behaviour in auditory processing. The findings of this research may further shed light on the
      evaluation and treatment planning for children across and within cultures.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background: Difference in autonomic nervous system (ANS) processes across cultural and ethnic
      groups was suggested and autonomic regulation differentiation may occur even at an early age.
      However, the role of ethnicity and environment on regulation of response towards sensory
      stimulation in children is not well understood yet. This research aims to compare the
      autonomic activity at resting condition and toward a block of auditory stimulation between
      typically developing children from different countries and living environments and examine
      the role of environments and ethnicity on autonomic regulation.

      Methods: Four groups of typically-developing participants will be recruited in this study: 1)
      Chinese children living in Hong Kong (n=32); Filipino children living in Hong Kong (32);
      Filipino children living in urban-Philippines (n=32); Filipino children living in
      urban-Philippines (n=32). Participants will be males (nm=16) and females (nf=16), ages 7-12
      years old, and without known history of developmental disabilities, medical history of
      cardiac or pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory deficits.
      Recruited participants will watch a silent movie, and listen to a block of sound stimulus
      presentations. Autonomic activity (heart rate variability and electrodermal activity) will be
      measured and recorded using Polar H2 heart rate monitor and eSense GSR. Recordings will be
      screened for ectopic beats of HRV or bursts of EDA. The HRV and EDA signals will be processed
      by using aHRV and Ledalab software, respectively, and according to the standards of editing
      and analysing HRV and EDA artefacts. Autonomic activity (LF, HF and EDA) at experimental
      condition groups (HK group and PH-U group; Fil-HK group and PH-U group; PH-U group vs. PH-R
      group) will be tested with repeated measures of MANOVA. All significant levels will be set at
      a critical α=> .05.

      Discussion: This study will increase the understanding on the role of culture and environment
      in the regulation of behaviour in auditory processing. The findings of this research may
      further shed light on the evaluation and treatment planning for children across and within
      cultures.
    

Intervention name(s): Ethnicity; Environment
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): As mentioned by Goldberger and Veroff (1995) the concept of ethnicity is also associated with culture and is often used interchangeably with culture as well as with race. Ethnic differences are not necessarily inherited, but they are learned through constant exposure; however have strong genetic influences that explain consequent behavioural differences between different ethnic groups (Chudek & Henrich, 2011). An individual's genetic makeup greatly affects their behaviours (Klahr & Burt, 2014).
In this study, we look at exposure to different ethnicity as exemplified by comparison between two groups of typically-developing children from different ethnicity (Chinese children in Hong Kong and Filipino Children in Hong Kong).; The living environment has been implicated to have an effect on a person's psychological functioning (Rutter, Picker, Murray & Eaves, 2001) and eventually how behaviour is manifested. The proposed disparity or effects between urban and rural dwelling is built on research that looks at the restorative and calming features of the natural environment, as well as the chaotic organization of the living spaces in urban settings.
Observational model: Other
Time perspective: Cross-Sectional
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        For all participant groups, the recruited sample shall be males and females, aged 7-12
        years old. Any participant with known history of developmental disabilities, medical
        history of cardiac or pulmonary problem, medical history of diabetes, or having any sensory
        deficits will be excluded. All participants will also be screened for past pertinent
        medical history for any maladaptive behaviour in sensory processing in daily living. Those
        showing definite problem in sensory processing will be excluded from the study.
      
Keywords: Neurophysiology; Autonomic; Sensory; Child; Ethnicity; Environment