Adolescent depressed mood and difficulties with emotion regulation: Concurrent trajectories of change

Adolescent depression is a significant mental health concern. Emotion regulation difficulties have been associated with subsequent depressive symptoms, though different facets of emotion regulation are rarely compared. This study examined the degree to which trajectories of change in different facets of emotion regulation (goal-directed behavior, impulse control, and regulation strategies) and depressive symptoms were associated across twelve months in a clinical adolescent sample.

Participants included 110 adolescents from the US who were enrolled in a randomized trial that tested a cognitive-behavioral treatment for youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns (M_age = 15.71 years; 57.3% male). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Three separate bivariate latent basis growth curve analyses were conducted. Correlations between latent intercepts and latent slopes, as well as overall model fit, were examined.

Impulse control and goal-directed behavior were each associated with depressive symptoms at baseline. Additionally, change in impulse control over time was significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms. However, the same was not true for goal-directed behavior. Overall fit indices for models of emotion regulation strategies were below acceptable levels and thus could not be interpreted.

Findings from the present study indicate that adolescents' depressive symptoms appear to improve as their perceived ability to control impulses improves. These results suggest that addressing impulse control difficulties may be an important step in treating adolescent depression and co-occurring disorders.