Emotion Regulation and Depressive Symptoms in Preadolescence

This study examined associations among several measures of emotion regulation, and their links to depressive symptoms, in a sample of children ages 10–12 years old (N = 87). Both temporal features of emotion regulation and regulation processes involved in the evaluation, monitoring, and modification of emotion were assessed through parent and child report and behavioral observation. Children also completed a self-report measure of depressive symptoms. Children with more depressive symptoms were reported by mothers and rated by observers as having higher levels of negative affect intensity. Regarding emotion regulation processes, children with more depressive symptoms reported more biased interpretations of emotionally charged situations, less awareness of their emotions, and their mothers reported that they utilized less problem-focused coping and positive reframing when coping with upsetting events. Findings suggest that children with depressive symptoms experience a wide range of difficulties with emotion regulation.