Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Emotional processing and self-control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Amy E Hughes1, Cynthia A Berg, Deborah J Wiebe
1380 S. 1530 E., Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. Cynthia.berg@psych.utah.edu
Objective:
This study examined whether emotional processing (understanding emotions), self-control (regulation of thoughts, emotions, and behavior), and their interaction predicted HbA1c for adolescents with type 1 diabetes over and above diabetes-specific constructs.
Methods:
Self-report measures of self-control, emotional processing, self-efficacy for diabetes management, diabetes-specific negative affect, and adherence, and HbA1c from medical records were obtained from 137 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (M age = 13.48 years).
Results:
Emotional processing interacted with self-control to predict HbA1c, such that when adolescents had both low emotional processing and low self-control, HbA1c was poorest. Also, both high emotional processing and self-control buffered negative effects of low capacity in the other in relation to HbA1c. The interaction of emotional processing × self-control predicted HbA1c over diabetes-specific self-efficacy, negative affect, and adherence.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest the importance of emotional processing and self-control for health outcomes in adolescents with diabetes.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Self-Regulation
Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

