Interplay Between Perceived Parenting Practices, Emotion Regulation and Adolescents’ Mental Health Symptoms

A Longitudinal Study Considering the Role of Cultural Orientation

Bibliographic Data

ID6451841
AuthorsShokoufeh Vatandoost (0000-0001-8326-5722, Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium, corresponding author), Martijn Van Heel (0000-0001-7741-5093, Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences Brussels University Consultation Center Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium), Zahra Azadfar (0000-0003-4594-0058, Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences Brussels University Consultation Center Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium), Siglinde Van Den Bossche (Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium), Imke Baetens (0000-0002-1906-2020, Department of Psychology Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences Brussels University Consultation Center Vrije Universiteit Brussel Brussels Belgium), Fateme Aghaie Meybodi (0000-0001-6961-544X, Research Center of Addiction and Behavioral Sciences Non‐Communicable Diseases Research Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd Iran)
Year2025
Volume34
Issue3
Publication date2025-06-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-9507 • E-ISSN: 0961-205X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sode.70000
OpenAlexW4411642954
LanguageEN
References cited143

Adolescence is marked by heightened emotional challenges and significant shifts in emotion regulation (ER), which can lead to various mental health symptoms. The influence of perceived parenting practices is pivotal in determining whether adolescents adopt adaptive or maladaptive ER strategies. This longitudinal study investigates the relationships between perceived parenting practices, ER modes, and mental health symptoms in adolescents. Specifically, it examines how different ER modes (i.e., dysregulated emotion regulation—DER, suppressive emotion regulation—SER, and integrative emotion regulation—IER) mediate the link between perceived parenting practices (autonomy‐supportive and psychologically controlling parenting) and various mental health symptoms, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms, non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI), and suicidal self‐injury (SSI). Additionally, the study explores how a cultural orientation (independence/interdependence orientation) may moderate these associations, providing insights into cultural influences on adolescent mental health. We analyzed data from 252 participants from four schools in Flanders, Belgium (mean age at Time 1 = 15.80 years) who completed the study questionnaires at two time points. Multilevel modeling revealed that perceived autonomy‐supportive parenting was linked to reduced internalizing and externalizing symptoms via IER. In contrast, perceived psychologically controlling parenting increased the risk of internalizing and externalizing symptoms, as well as NSSI and SSI, through dysregulated ER. Furthermore, independent cultural orientation weakened the association between perceived autonomy‐supportive parenting and SSI. The findings highlight the key role of ER as an underlying mechanism in the association between perceived parenting practices and adolescent mental health problems. These insights emphasize the importance of targeting mechanisms like ER in prevention and intervention programs. Moreover, careful consideration should be given to the role of cultural identity in studying adolescent ER and mental health

Association (psychology · Autonomy · Developmental psychology · Longitudinal study · Mental health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Suicide prevention · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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