Emotion Regulation Strategies as Mediators of the Relationship Between Internalizing Psychopathology and Sleep-Wake Problems During the Transition to Early Adolescence

A Longitudinal Study

Bibliographic Data

ID11670885
AuthorsCara Tomaso (0000-0003-0641-3319, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, corresponding author), Anna B Johnson (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Tiffany D James (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Jennifer Mize Nelson (0009-0007-9857-4449, University of Nebraska–Lincoln), W Alex Mason (0000-0002-8132-8045, Boys Town Child and Family Translational Research Center, NE, USA), Kimberly Andrews Espy (0000-0003-3933-1053, The University of Texas at San Antonio), Timothy D Nelson (0000-0003-1831-9135, University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
Year2020
Volume41
Issue5
Pages657-682
Publication date2020-07-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Early Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0272-4316 • E-ISSN: 1552-5449
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0272431620939184
OpenAlexW3040966736
LanguageEN
References cited51

Internalizing psychopathology, including depression and anxiety, has been associated with sleep-wake problems among youth. Although transdiagnostic theories of psychopathology posit that emotion dysregulation explains many of the symptoms associated with internalizing psychopathology, examination of regulatory mechanisms underlying this association is limited, particularly during the transition to early adolescence when risk for affective dysregulation and sleep-wake problems is heightened. Using a longitudinal design with a youth community sample ( N = 278), the current study found a positive, indirect effect of internalizing psychopathology ([Formula: see text] age = 9.84) on later sleep-wake problems ([Formula: see text] age = 14.53) via higher levels of a more maladaptive emotion regulation strategy (i.e., expressive suppression), with no evidence of an indirect effect of a more adaptive strategy (i.e., cognitive reappraisal; [Formula: see text] age = 12.02). Findings have important clinical implications for targeting the reduction of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, such as expressive suppression, in order to address sleep problems among youth with internalizing psychopathology

Anxiety · Association (psychology · Depression (economics · Developmental psychology · Longitudinal study · Psychiatry · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Youth Substance Use and School Attendance