Emotion regulation strategy usage explains links between institutional caregiving and elevated internalizing symptoms

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Early adversity, such as institutional orphanage care, is a known risk factor for internalizing disorders.
• Institutionalization may disrupt emotion regulation processes, contributing to internalizing symptoms.
• Limited research exists on how orphanage care specifically influences emotion regulation strategy use and its link to internalizing symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate emotion regulation strategy usage in previously institutionalized youth compared to non-institutionalized peers.
• To examine the relationship between early orphanage care, specific emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression), and internalizing symptoms.
• To determine if emotion regulation strategy use mediates the association between institutionalization and internalizing symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 36 previously institutionalized youth and 58 comparison youth were assessed.
• Emotion regulation strategy usage (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) was measured.
• Internalizing symptoms were assessed in both groups.

Main Results:

• Previously institutionalized youth reported higher rates of internalizing symptoms than comparison youth.
• More frequent use of expressive suppression partially mediated the relationship between early institutional care and elevated internalizing symptoms.
• Cognitive reappraisal use did not buffer against internalizing symptoms in either group.

Conclusions:

• Early institutional care is associated with increased internalizing symptoms, partly due to heightened use of emotion suppression.
• Interventions targeting emotion regulation strategies may be beneficial for youth exposed to early adversity.
• Cognitive reappraisal may not serve as a protective factor against internalizing symptoms in this population.