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Adolescent psychopathology

Emotion Regulation Difficulties Mediate Relations between Negative Life Events and Psychopathology in Adolescents

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by increased emergence of psychopathology, particularly for adolescents who experience negative life events (NLEs). Research has shown that emotion regulation difficulties can mediate the relation between NLE exposure and psychopathology, but this relationship has not been extensively studied in gender diverse (GD) adolescents. A recent study using the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data examined potential gender differences in the relations between NLE exposure, emotion regulation difficulties, and psychopathology symptoms in a sample of 1955 cisgender boys, 1614 cisgender girls, and 194 GD adolescents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that emotion regulation difficulties partially mediated the relations between NLE exposure and all psychopathology symptoms for all gender groups.
  • GD youth had higher rates of NLE exposure, emotion regulation difficulties, and psychopathology symptoms compared to cisgender peers.
  • Gender moderated direct relations between NLE exposure and youth-report internalizing symptoms, with stronger relations found for cis girls and GD youth compared to cis boys.
  • Emotion regulation difficulties are a key factor in understanding the relationship between NLE exposure and psychopathology in adolescents.
  • The study highlights the need for additional support and resources for GD youth, who experience higher rates of NLE exposure, emotion regulation difficulties, and psychopathology symptoms.

Statistics:

  • 1955 cisgender boys and 1614 cisgender girls participated in the study.
  • 194 GD adolescents participated in the study.
  • GD youth had higher rates of NLE exposure (55% vs. 45% for cisgender boys and 43% for cisgender girls).
  • GD youth had more emotion regulation difficulties (63% vs. 53% for cisgender boys and 52% for cisgender girls).
  • GD youth had higher psychopathology symptoms (82% vs. 68% for cisgender boys and 72% for cisgender girls).
  • Emotion regulation difficulties partially mediated the relations between NLE exposure and all psychopathology symptoms for all gender groups.

Sources:

  • osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/r4zxj_v1/ (Preprint abstract)
  • Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (Source of data used in the study)
  • Life Event Scale (LES) (Measure used to assess NLE exposure)
  • Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Parent Report (DERS-P) (Measure used to assess emotion regulation difficulties)
  • Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Brief Problem Monitor-Youth (BPM-Y) (Measures used to assess psychopathology symptoms)

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