Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Do problem-solving skills help mitigate emotional distress through perceived control and self-efficacy in parents of
Ariane Levesque1,2, Julianne Béliveau1,2, David Ogez1,3
1Department of Psychology, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Introduction:
Parents of children with cancer face psychological challenges that can result in significant distress. It has been found that problem-solving (PS) could mitigate emotional distress (ED) in this population, but mechanisms of this relation are poorly understood. This study aimed to assess whether there is a link between PS and ED through perceived control and self-efficacy.
Methods:
We included 119 parents (67 mothers, 52 fathers, including 50 couples) whose child was diagnosed with cancer. We evaluated whether PS was associated with ED through perceived control and self-efficacy in couples of parents.
Results:
We found no direct association between PS and ED (β = -0.01, p = 0.92). Our results indicated a significant indirect effect between ED and PS with perceived control as the intermediary variable (β = -0.24, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-0.41, -0.11]). However, there was no indirect association between ED and PS with self-efficacy as the intermediary variable (β = -0.04, p = 0.26, 95% CI [-0.11, 0.09]). The effect size was large in magnitude (R2 = 0.59 for ED).
Conclusion:
The mitigating role of PS on ED is better explained by an enhanced experience of control than by improved self-efficacy. Future interventions should directly target the action mechanism behind PS and ED in both mothers and fathers by targeting their perceived control.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....

