Emotion Regulation as a Transdiagnostic Risk Factor for (Non)Clinical Adolescents' Internalizing and Externalizing Psychopathology: Investigating the Intervening Role of Psychological Need Experiences

This study investigated emotion regulation (i.e., emotional integration, suppression and dysregulation) as a transdiagnostic process underlying adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Basic psychological need experiences were investigated as a possible underlying mechanism explaining this association. A heterogeneous sample of non-clinical and clinically-referred adolescents reported upon emotion regulation, basic psychological needs (i.e., need satisfaction and frustration), and both internalizing and externalizing problems. Results indicated that dysfunctional emotion regulation was positively linked to internalizing as well as externalizing problems. Need frustration was a partial mediator in this relation between emotion regulation and psychopathology. The findings suggest that both emotion regulation and basic psychological needs may play a transdiagnostic role in adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

Automated summary

This study found that dysfunctional emotion regulation was positively linked to internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents, and need frustration partially mediated the relationship between emotion regulation and psychopathology. These findings suggest that both emotion regulation and basic psychological needs may play a transdiagnostic role in adolescents' internalizing and externalizing symptoms.