Adolescent emotion regulation strategy use in the context of an acute global stressor

• In Event: Poster Session 02
  In Poster Session: PS 02 Topic - Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

Objective: Examine the effect of emotion regulation strategy use on daily negative mood and anxiety symptoms during the Covid-19 pandemic in a sample of adolescent girls oversampled for shy/fearful temperament.

Rationale: Research has identified several emotion regulation strategies in adolescence that are broadly more and less adaptive in terms of vulnerability for anxiety and mood disorders. Typically, strategies in which an individual engages with a stressor, such as problem-solving, cognitive reframing, and acceptance, are negatively associated with depression and anxiety, whereas strategies that are based in avoidance or disengagement, such as avoidance and rumination, are positively associated with symptoms (Compas et al., 2017; Schafer et al., 2017). However, these associations are context-dependent, and generally based on situations that are modifiable, such as interpersonal conflict or fears. In the context of non-modifiable stressors, applying primary coping strategies (Connor-Smith et al., 2000) may actually increase distress and symptoms. The Covid-19 pandemic is a novel opportunity to examine how adolescents regulate their emotions in the context of an acute, uncontrollable stressor. This study will examine the associations between several emotion regulation strategies (problem-solving, acceptance, reframing, rumination) and daily mood and anxiety and depressive symptoms through daily diary in a sample of adolescent girls oversampled for temperamental shyness/fearfulness.

Hypotheses: At the within-person level, we predict that the use of secondary coping strategies (acceptance, reframing) will be associated with lower daily negative mood and fewer daily depression and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, we predict that rumination will be associated with higher daily negative mood and more daily depression and anxiety symptoms. At the between-persons level, we predict individuals who ruminate more on average will exhibit higher daily negative mood and more daily depression and anxiety symptoms. Finally, we have one exploratory hypothesis: Given the uncontrollable nature of many pandemic-related stressors (school closures, isolation, job loss, risk of infection), at the between-person level, we predict individuals who more often used problem-solving during the course of the pandemic will exhibit higher levels of daily negative affect and depressive symptoms.

Method: The above hypotheses will be examined in a sample of 93 girls ages 11-16, oversampled for variability in shy/fearful temperament. Participants completed 10 days of daily diary assessments in April after mandated social distancing in [state name masked for review] went into effect. The measures pertinent to this study include daily negative emotion (composite of mad, sad, worried, stressed; 0-100 sliding scale), daily depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), and daily anxiety symptoms (GAD-7). Multilevel models will be used to test study hypotheses using the lme4 package in R, with observations nested in persons. (The fit of three-level models will also be examined, adding a potential random effect of day nested within persons.) Covariates will include participant age, race, and risk status (high/low).

Feasibility: Data collection for the proposed study is complete. Analyses will be conducted in October-November and prepared for presentation in December-January. The first author has previously published manuscripts leveraging these types of multilevel analyses.

Authors

• Kirsten M.P. McKone, University of Pittsburgh
  Presenting Author

• Quyen B. Do, University of Pittsburgh
  Non-Presenting Author

• Cecile D Ladouceur, University of Pittsburgh
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jennifer S. Silk, University of Pittsburgh
  Non-Presenting Author