Emotion dysregulation between mothers, fathers, and adolescents: implications for adolescents' internalizing problems

Cheung, R. Y. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-7991, Chan, L. Y. and Chung, K. K. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8105-7361 (2020) Emotion dysregulation between mothers, fathers, and adolescents: implications for adolescents' internalizing problems. Journal of Adolescence, 83 (1). pp. 62-71. ISSN 0140-1971 doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.07.001

Abstract/Summary

Introduction The present study calls attention to the longitudinal relations between mothers', fathers', and adolescents' emotion dysregulation and adolescents' internalizing problems. To this end, we tested the associations between family members' emotion dysregulation and adolescents' internalizing problems over time. Methods Over a 12-month period, 386 Chinese families from Hong Kong involving mothers, fathers, and adolescent children (children at 12–17 years of age; boys = 185, girls = 201) completed a set of questionnaires twice. Results Multi-group path analysis revealed unidirectional effects of mothers' emotion dysregulation on fathers' and adolescents' emotion dysregulation over time. Adolescents' emotion dysregulation was also related to their subsequent internalizing problems. The associations did not differ as a function of adolescents' gender. Conclusion The present findings underscore the significance of mothers' emotion dysregulation on fathers' and adolescents' emotion dysregulation. As a risk factor, adolescents' emotion dysregulation was also predictive of their internalizing problems 12 months later. Taken together, this study serves to inform prevention and intervention efforts in promoting emotion regulation as a family asset associated with fewer adolescents' internalizing problems.