Children's depressive symptoms and their regulation of negative affect in response to vignette depicted emotion-eliciting events

Abstract

The present study examined the relationship between sub-clinical depressive symptoms and children's anticipated cognitive and behavioral reactions to two written vignettes depicting emotion-eliciting stressors (i.e., fight with one's best friend and failure at a roller blade contest). Participants ( N = 244) ranging in age between 10 and 13 were presented each vignette and then asked to rate their anticipated utilization of each of seven emotion-regulation strategies (ERs), along with the anticipated mood enhancement effects of each strategy. In addition, ratings of participants' perceived coping efficacy to manage the stressful situation were collected. Results indicated that participants were more likely to endorse ERs for which they have greater confidence in their mood enhancement effects. Moreover, marked differences were observed between ratings for conceptually distinct cognitive ERs. Consistent with expectations, results revealed that participants displaying higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to endorse cognitive and behavioral ERs that are negative, passive, and/or avoidant in nature. Children's ratings of the anticipated mood enhancement effects of several ERs were inversely related to their level of depressive symptoms, as was their perceived self-efficacy to manage the stressor.

Common and Specific Emotion-related Predictors of Anxious and Depressive Symptoms in Youth

“…In response to negative emotions, depressed children were more likely to choose active avoidance or negative behaviors (e.g., aggression) to manage the experience than nondepressed youth, whereas the latter were more likely to choose problem-focused and active distraction strategies than the former. These general findings have been replicated in subsequent studies [27][28][29]. Taken together, findings suggest that both anxious and depressed youth experience emotion dysregulation and deficits in emotion regulation coping.…”

Emotion Regulation Mediates the Association Between ADHD and Depressive Symptoms in a Community Sample of Youth

“…Specifically, dysfunctional ER ability has been related to both depressive symptoms and disorders in cross-sectional, community samples of youth (Larson et al 1990; Nolen-Hoeksema et al 1993; Reijntjes et al 2007; Silk et al 2003). While the majority of studies of ER and depressive symptoms have been cross-sectional, one longitudinal study of girls found that difficulties with ER evaluated between the ages of 5–8 years predicted depressive symptoms at age 10, suggesting that difficulties with ER predate depressive symptoms (Feng et al 2009).…”

Regulação das emoções na infância: Delimitação e definição

“…Aqui há um maior foco nas estratégias usadas e nos processos que podem ser mais ou menos eficazes, em função do contexto em causa (e.g. Carthy, Horesh, Apter, Edge, & Gross, 2010;Davis, Levine, Lench, & Quas, 2010;Dias, Vikan, & Gravås, 2000;Endrerud & Vikan, 2007;Garnefski, Rieffe, Jallesma, Terwogt, & Kraaij, 2007;Reijntjes, Stegee, Terwogt, & Hurkens, 2007;Reijntjes, Stegee, Terwogt, Kamhuis, & Telch, 2006;Saarni, 1997;Von Salisch & Vogelgesang, 2005;Zeman & Shipman, 1996, 1997.…”