# The Link Between Emotional Regulation and Impulsivity in Childhood Anxiety Disorder

## TL;DR

Children with anxiety disorders struggle with emotional regulation, which directly affects their impulsivity, suggesting that improving emotional regulation could help manage their behavior.

## Contribution

The study reveals a direct link between emotional regulation and impulsivity in childhood anxiety disorders, without mediation by anxiety sensitivity.

## Key findings

- Children with anxiety disorders show significant differences in emotion regulation compared to healthy children.
- Emotional variability/negativity is directly and completely related to impulsivity in anxiety disorders.
- Anxiety sensitivity does not mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
In generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders, significant differences were observed in emotion regulation compared to the healthy group, while no significant differences were observed in impulsivity.Anxiety sensitivity did not mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity in anxiety disorders; a direct relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity was observed.

In generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders, significant differences were observed in emotion regulation compared to the healthy group, while no significant differences were observed in impulsivity.

Anxiety sensitivity did not mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity in anxiety disorders; a direct relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity was observed.

What is the implication of the main finding?
Children who have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders may display inappropriate, impulsive coping behaviors in response to emotional regulation difficulties.Addressing emotional regulation skills in treatment may be important for behavioral control in anxiety disorders.

Children who have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders may display inappropriate, impulsive coping behaviors in response to emotional regulation difficulties.

Addressing emotional regulation skills in treatment may be important for behavioral control in anxiety disorders.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate impulsivity in childhood anxiety disorders and to examine its relationship with anxiety sensitivity and emotion regulation. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of a total of 60 children aged 8–12 years diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD, n = 30) and other anxiety disorders (n = 30). The control group consisted of 40 healthy children of similar age without a psychiatric diagnosis. Data collection forms included the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Short Form (BIS-S), the Children’s Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3), the Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC), and The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). Results: Our study found no significant differences in BIS-S scores between GAD, other anxiety disorders, and the control group. The total/physical and ERC subscales of the ASI-3 were higher in the generalized anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorder group than in the control group. However, there were no significant differences in the social dimension and cognitive dimension scores of the ASI-3. It has been determined that anxiety sensitivity does not significantly mediate the relationship between emotion regulation and impulsivity, and that emotional variability/negativity is directly and completely related to impulsivity. Conclusions: Our study suggests that children with anxiety disorders experience greater difficulties in regulating their emotions compared to healthy children, and that emotional variability is directly related to impulsivity. In this context, enhancing emotion regulation skills in anxiety disorders may prove to be a pivotal factor in the efficacy of treatment and the maintenance of behavioral control.