Poster #202 - Comparing Emotion Regulation Repertoires Using the Regulation of Emotion Systems Survey (RESS) in an Early Adolescent Sample

• In Event: 1-061 - Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Section - Social, Emotional, Personality

Integrative Statement

Introduction. Emotion Regulation (ER) strategies have been linked to psychosocial outcomes (e.g., suppression with depressive symptoms; Gross & John, 2003). However, examining the use of just one or two ER strategies in isolation does not capture the full range of ER strategies that people have at their disposal. In contrast, recent studies have used a repertoire approach to examine the range of ER strategy use in mid- to late adolescence, demonstrating that a larger repertoire of ER strategies is associated with lower depressive, anxiety and social anxiety symptoms, whereas smaller repertoire is linked to greater psychosocial difficulties (e.g., De France & Hollenstein, 2017; Lougheed & Hollenstein, 2012). Two important questions emerge from this research: What types of repertoires of ER strategies do younger adolescents employ? How do these ER repertoire types relate to psychosocial wellbeing?
Methods. Adolescents (N = 186) aged 13–15 years completed questionnaires on a computer in the lab. Self-reported ER strategy use was measured using the Regulation of Emotion Systems Survey (RESS; DeFrance, & Hollenstein 2017) to identify the frequency of using six common ER strategies: Distraction, Engagement, Reappraisal, Relaxation, Rumination, and Suppression. Psychosocial measures included depressive symptoms (CDI), anxiety symptoms (MASC), family and peer attachment (IPPA) and perceived difficulty regulating emotions (DERS). To derive ER repertoire types, a series of latent profile analyses were conducted on the RESS Subscales, beginning with a two-profile model, and adding subsequent profiles until the addition of a profile did not improve the fit of the model. Separate ANOVAS and pairwise comparisons were used to examine group differences on psychosocial wellbeing.
Results. Evaluation of fit indices showed that a three-profile model was the best fit for the data. Based on the pattern of strategy use (Figure 1), the groups were labeled: (1) Average (n = 110): all 6 strategies near sample mean; (2) High Suppression (n = 52): suppression above 1 SD; (3) High Regulation Group (n = 27): all strategies above sample mean. Omnibus F-tests were all significant indicating a difference between groups on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, attachment and difficulty regulating emotions (Table 1). The Average group had lower depressive symptoms and less difficulty regulating emotions than both the High Suppression and High Regulation groups. The Average group also had greater peer and family attachment than the High Suppression group, and fewer anxiety symptoms than the High Regulation group. The High Suppression and High Regulation groups did not differ on any psychosocial outcomes.
Discussion. Results are mostly consistent with previous research; however, the High Regulation group’s repertoire was associated with better psychosocial outcomes in older samples. This could be that there are repertoire differences at this younger age or that this group’s elevated strategy use is related to heighten internalizing symptoms and perceived difficulty with ER.

Authors

• Alexandra Bucosky Tighe, Queen's University
  Presenting Author

• Kalee De France, Queen's University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Tom Hollenstein, Queen’s University
  Non-Presenting Author