Emotion Regulation Strategies Related To Problem Behaviors in Teenagers: A Latent Profile Analysis

This study explored the latent heterogeneity of emotion regulation strategies among adolescents and their associations with problem behaviors. Using a sample of Chinese middle school students, we identified distinct profiles of emotion regulation strategies through latent profile analysis. Participants were asked to complete the Emotion Regulation Scale (ERS), the eleven-item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS-11), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD-7), the Ten-Item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-10) and the Generic Scale of Phubbing (GSP). Results revealed four subgroups: low, moderate, adaptive and high emotion regulation strategies profile. Adolescents in non-adaptive profiles (low, moderate or high strategies) exhibited higher risks of depression, anxiety, Internet gaming disorder (IGD), and phubbing, whereas the adaptive profile was protective against these problem behaviors. The findings underscore the critical need to prioritize emotion regulation strategies in interventions aimed at mitigating adolescents' risks of internalizing and externalizing problems. The results further emphasize the necessity of adopting tailored approaches that align with individuals' unique regulatory patterns, ensuring interventions are both precision-driven and effective in addressing the diverse emotional regulation needs of adolescents.