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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
08:09
Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Peer Victimisation, and Stress Reactivity as Multidimensional Pathways to Suicidality
Giuseppe Alessio Carbone1, Laura Nigro1, Laura Ilen1
1Clinical Psychology Unit for Disability Situations, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Summary
Autistic individuals without intellectual disabilities face high rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). Peer victimization and emotion regulation strategies significantly influence STBs, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Autistic individuals without intellectual disabilities exhibit elevated rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs).
- The underlying psychological mechanisms contributing to this vulnerability are not well understood.
- Existing research has not fully explored the interplay of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors in autistic STBs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multidimensional factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in autistic adolescents and young adults.
- To examine the roles of peer victimization, cognitive emotion regulation, and stress reactivity in autistic STBs.
- To elucidate the complex psychopathological processes underlying STBs in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 84 autistic adolescents and young adults (aged 12-32).
- Utilized regression analyses to assess associations between peer victimization, emotion regulation, and STBs.
- Employed canonical correlation analyses to explore relationships between emotion regulation strategies and STBs.
- Conducted moderation analysis to examine the influence of stress reactivity on the emotion regulation-self-harm link.
Main Results:
- 36.9% reported suicidal ideation, 27.4% self-harm, and 42.9% at least one STB indicator.
- Peer victimization was significantly associated with both suicidal ideation and self-harm.
- Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies positively correlated with STBs, while adaptive strategies showed a negative correlation.
- The association between emotion regulation and self-harm was moderated by perceived stress reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in autism arise from a complex interplay of interpersonal (peer victimization), intrapersonal (emotion regulation), and environmental (stress reactivity) factors.
- Findings underscore the importance of assessing peer victimization and stress reactivity in clinical evaluations of autistic individuals.
- Results suggest the need for developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies that address these specific risk factors and consider the functional aspects of emotion regulation.
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