Adolescent depressed mood and difficulties with emotion regulation

Concurrent trajectories of change

Bibliographic Data

ID21444167
AuthorsAnnamarie B Defayette (0000-0002-9352-932X, Department of Psychology George Mason University 4400 University Drive, 3F5 Fairfax VA USA 22030, corresponding author), Emma D Whitmyre (0000-0003-3590-9567, Department of Psychology George Mason University 4400 University Drive, 3F5 Fairfax VA USA 22030), Roberto López (0000-0002-2351-4173, Department of Psychology George Mason University 4400 University Drive, 3F5 Fairfax VA USA 22030), Bradley A Brown (University of South Florida), Bradley Brown (Department of Psychology University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, PCD 4118G Tampa FL USA 33620), Jennifer C Wolff (0000-0002-7898-3903, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Box G‐BH, 700 Butler Drive Providence RI USA 02906), Anthony Spirito (0000-0003-3859-2083, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Box G‐BH, 700 Butler Drive Providence RI USA 02906), Christianne Esposito‐Smythers (Department of Psychology George Mason University 4400 University Drive, 3F5 Fairfax VA USA 22030)
Year2021
Volume91
Issue1
Pages1-14
Publication date2021-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0140-1971 • E-ISSN: 1095-9254
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/j.adolescence.2021.07.001
PMID34252783
OpenAlexW3181924047
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited86

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent depression is a significant mental health concern. Emotion regulation difficulties have been associated with subsequent depressive symptoms, though different facets of emotion regulation are rarely compared. This study examined the degree to which trajectories of change in different facets of emotion regulation (goal-directed behavior, impulse control, and regulation strategies) and depressive symptoms were associated across twelve months in a clinical adolescent sample. METHODS: = 15.71 years; 57.3% male). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Three separate bivariate latent basis growth curve analyses were conducted. Correlations between latent intercepts and latent slopes, as well as overall model fit, were examined. RESULTS: Impulse control and goal-directed behavior were each associated with depressive symptoms at baseline. Additionally, change in impulse control over time was significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms. However, the same was not true for goal-directed behavior. Overall fit indices for models of emotion regulation strategies were below acceptable levels and thus could not be interpreted. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the present study indicate that adolescents' depressive symptoms appear to improve as their perceived ability to control impulses improves. These results suggest that addressing impulse control difficulties may be an important step in treating adolescent depression and co-occurring disorders.

Bivariate analysis · Cognition · Depression (economics) · Depressive symptoms · Developmental psychology · Impulse (physics) · Latent growth modeling · Mental health · Mood · Psychiatry · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access