Emotion dysregulation in adolescents: the associations with clinical symptoms, risky-behaviors, and environmental factors

TL;DR

The study shows that adolescents with poor emotion regulation have higher depression, anxiety, risky behaviors, and worse family and social relationships.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that emotion dysregulation is linked to clinical symptoms and risky behaviors in non-clinical adolescents.

Findings

High emotion dysregulation correlates with increased depression, anxiety, and impulsivity.

Adolescents with high emotion dysregulation report more risky behaviors like self-harm and binge eating.

Emotion dysregulation is associated with childhood trauma and poor family and social functioning.

Abstract

Emotion dysregulation (ED) is transdiagnostic domain that plays a pivotal role in the emergence and persistence of numerous mental disorders. Examining the extent of ED within non-clinical populations may shed light on whether ED is indeed linked to symptoms as observed in clinical settings. This investigation constitutes a crucial milestone toward the development of preventive strategies.

To investigate the correlations between ED, psychopathological symptoms, risky behaviors, and environmental factors in adolescent students.

A total of N=610 students (16 years; 72% females) completed self-report standardized questionnaires measuring depression, anxiety, impulsivity, childhood trauma, relations with classmates, and family functioning. Lifetime risky-behaviours were recorded using an ad-hoc checklist, and ED through Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). The sample was then divided into subgroups based on percentiles of DERS Total scores: N=210 low ED, N=187 moderate, N=214 high.

Participants exhibiting high ED displayed higher level of depression, anxiety and impulsivity (Table 1). There was an observable trend linking higher levels of ED with a greater proportion of youths reporting risky behaviors (Table 2). The high ED group reported an increased frequency of childhood traumatic experiences, less favorable relationships with family members and classmates (Table 3).
Table 1.Clinical symptoms by level of ED in students (N=610)
low
moderate
high
Sig.
Patient Health Questionnaire
(depression)5.33(±3.51)8.94(±4.05)14.57(±5.53)<.001Screen For Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (anxiety)59.27(±9.61)68.61(±10.88)79.39(±11.61)<.001Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief
(impulsivity)15.14(±3.52)16.70(±3.81)18.01(±4.17)<.001
Table 2.Risky behaviors by level of ED in students (N=610)
low
moderate
high
Sig.Binge drinkingN=73 (29.6%)N=78 (31.6%)N=96 (38.9%).097Self-harm ideationN=35 (13.4%)N=73 (28%)N=153 (58.6%)<.001Self-harm
N=30 (15%)N=49 (24.5%)N=121 (60.5%)<.001Binge eatingN=60 (22.9%)N=78 (29.8%)N=124 (47.3%)<.001
Table 3.Environmental factors by level of ED in students (N=610)
low
moderate
high
Sig.Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (trauma)30.99(±6.89)35.39(±9.1)39.54(±10.94)<.001Child And Adolescent Social Support Scale (classmate)51.19(±11.7)46.55(±10.96)44.91(±12.4)<.001Family Assessment Device (family functioning)117.58(±14)108.8(±17.48)103.38(±20.11)<.001

Clinical symptoms by level of ED in students (N=610)

Risky behaviors by level of ED in students (N=610)

Environmental factors by level of ED in students (N=610)

Findings provide robust support for the association between ED and compromised personal functioning, even within a non-clinical sample. The trend observed in the relationship between ED, clinical symptoms and risky behaviors is consistent across all variables. Overall, these results contribute to the growing body of evidence advocating for preventive interventions aimed at addressing ED in adolescents.

None Declared

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