Emotion regulation as a predictor of depression and psychosocial impairment in adolescence moderated by negative life events

Abstract

Depression and psychosocial impairment have become serious health problems among adolescents. The choice in emotion regulation strategies implemented by these adolescents, when faced with negative life events, can function as a protective/risk factor for the development of depression. As such, the aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the moderating effect of negative life events in the relationship between these emotion regulation strategies and the presence of depressive symptoms and psychosocial impairment. The sample consists of 117 adolescents aged between 13 and 16 years. In order to assess the variables mentioned above, data collection consisted of self-report measures namely the 1) the Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI: Kovacs, 1983; Translation and adaptation by Marujo, 1994); 2) Cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ: Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., e Spinhoven, P., 2001; Translation and adaptation by Matos, Cherpe & Serra, 2012); 3) Daily Hassles Scale Microsystem (DHMS: Seidman et al., 1995; Translation and adaptation by Paiva & Matos., 2009); and 4) the Adolescent Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (A-LIFE, Keller et al., 1993; Portuguese version: Matos & Costa, 2011). Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies such as brooding and catastrophizing were found to be positive predictors of depressive symptomology and psychosocial impairment in the female sample, as well as self-blame in the total sample. On the other hand, emotion regulation strategies such as positive reappraisal and refocus on planning were found to be negative predictors of depressive symptomology and psychosocial impairment in both the total and female samples, whereas positive refocusing was found to be a negative predictor solely in the total sample. The school and peer hassles demonstrated being the main positive predictors of depressive symptomology and psychosocial impairment. Several moderating effects were found for negative life events in the relationship between adaptive/maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and depressive symptomology/psychosocial impairment.