Abstract: Emotion Regulation Reported By Mothers and Fathers, and Its Relation to Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Children Aged 8-12 Years Old. (Society for Prevention Research 25th Annual Meeting)

Schedule:

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Columbia A/B (Hyatt Regency Washington, Washington, DC)

* noted as presenting author

Mona Elisabeth Løvaas, Master in psychology, PhD, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondehim, Norway

Anne Mari Sund, Phd, Consultant, St. Olav`s Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

Simon-Peter Neumer, Phd, Researcher, Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Oslo, Norway

Kristin Martinsen, Cand Psychol, Ph-d candidate, Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Oslo, Norway

Lene-Mari Potulski Rasmussen, M.S., PH-d candidate, The Regional Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health and Child Welfare - North, Tromsø, Norway

Solveig I Holen, PhD, Researcher, Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Eastern and Southern Norway (RBUP), Oslo, Norway

Frode Adolfsen, MA, PhD student, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

Joshua Patras, PhD, Associate Professor, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

Marit Loetveit Pedersen, Cand. Polit., PhD student, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Trude Reinfjell, PhD, Associate professor, Norwegian University og Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

Introduction

Past research has confirmed that emotion regulation and symptoms of depression and anxiety are related concepts. Most of these studies focus on anxiety symptoms alone, or a combination of internalizing symptoms. Children’s age span varies, and parental reports are dominated by mothers. Previous studies indicate variations between mothers` and fathers` reports, hence including fathers` reports holds the potential of a more comprehensive understanding.

The present study examines how children’s symptoms of depression and anxiety are related to emotional regulation abilities, and whether parental gender influences these connections. Potential differences by gender between parental reports are tested. The use of both mothers` and fathers` reports as predictors in this study is important and innovative.

Method

Data in this study are a part of the Early Intervention Coping Kids study in Norway, a nationwide RCT study of a transdiagnostic indicative CBT based program (EMOTION) delivered to children aged 8-12 years old, reporting high level of symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The program also includes parental sessions in groups.

Around 1600 children were initially screened. Children scoring more than one SD above population mean on anxiety, depression or both, were included in the study (N=700). Parental data is presently available from 476 children (N=434 mothers, N = 234 fathers). Parental response rate was approximately 67%.

Children and their parents reported on children’s symptoms of anxiety (MASC) and depression (SMFQ). Parents also reported on the child’s emotion regulation skills (ERC). All measurements have well established psychometric properties. The present study reports from baseline data in cross sectional multivariate analyses.

Results

Preliminary results show that, controlling for child age, gender, stressful life events and parental mental health, emotion regulation as reported by mothers explains cross-sectional 5.0% of the variance in children’s anxiety symptoms, and 12% of depressive symptoms. Fathers’ reports of emotional regulation explained even more, 7.6% of variation in anxiety symptoms and 14.8% of depression symptoms.

Conclusions

Difficulties with emotion regulation might be an important precursor to anxiety and depression in this age-group. The results support the significance of fathers as informants of children’s emotional problems.

Prevention programs focusing on improving children’s emotion regulation skills, could be important in diminishing depression and anxiety disorders.

Abstract: Emotion Regulation Reported By Mothers and Fathers, and Its Relation to Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Children Aged 8-12 Years Old. (Society for Prevention Research 25th Annual Meeting)

56 Emotion Regulation Reported By Mothers and Fathers, and Its Relation to Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Children Aged 8-12 Years Old.