Adolescent emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility: Examining gender as a moderator
Faculty Mentor
Rachel Miller-Slough
Mentor Home Department
Psychology
Short Abstract
Adolescence is characterized as a period of growth and transition that has implications for psychological well-being. However, maladaptive development can occur in the forms of emotion dysregulation (ED) and psychological inflexibility (PI). ED involves the overregulation or under-regulation of emotional strategies; PI involves intolerance to private events which often results in avoidance. Despite overlap in similar characteristics and components between the two constructs, the relationship between ED and PI in adolescents has yet to be sufficiently evaluated. In addition, when considering potential gender differences, limited research has focused on how gender may moderate the relationship between ED and PI. Therefore, the present study explored the relationship between ED and PI, and whether adolescent gender moderated this association. Participants were 165 adolescents who completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) via an online survey. Preliminary analyses indicated that child age was negatively associated with ED; thus, child age was considered a covariate in all further analyses. There was a main effect of emotion dysregulation on psychological inflexibility, with no moderation by adolescent gender. Higher emotion dysregulation corresponded to higher psychological inflexibility, consistent with extant literature. Supplementary analyses found that two types of ED significantly predicted PI: awareness and nonacceptance. Therefore, the results indicate that higher levels of ED—specifically awareness and nonacceptance—is associated with higher levels of PI, regardless of gender. Future research should consider the combined influence of these factors on the risk of psychopathology in adolescents.
Category
Social Sciences
Start Date
5-4-2024 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2024 2:30 PM
Location
D.P. Culp Center Multicultural Center Presentation Room
Adolescent emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility: Examining gender as a moderator
D.P. Culp Center Multicultural Center Presentation Room
Adolescence is characterized as a period of growth and transition that has implications for psychological well-being. However, maladaptive development can occur in the forms of emotion dysregulation (ED) and psychological inflexibility (PI). ED involves the overregulation or under-regulation of emotional strategies; PI involves intolerance to private events which often results in avoidance. Despite overlap in similar characteristics and components between the two constructs, the relationship between ED and PI in adolescents has yet to be sufficiently evaluated. In addition, when considering potential gender differences, limited research has focused on how gender may moderate the relationship between ED and PI. Therefore, the present study explored the relationship between ED and PI, and whether adolescent gender moderated this association. Participants were 165 adolescents who completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) via an online survey. Preliminary analyses indicated that child age was negatively associated with ED; thus, child age was considered a covariate in all further analyses. There was a main effect of emotion dysregulation on psychological inflexibility, with no moderation by adolescent gender. Higher emotion dysregulation corresponded to higher psychological inflexibility, consistent with extant literature. Supplementary analyses found that two types of ED significantly predicted PI: awareness and nonacceptance. Therefore, the results indicate that higher levels of ED—specifically awareness and nonacceptance—is associated with higher levels of PI, regardless of gender. Future research should consider the combined influence of these factors on the risk of psychopathology in adolescents.