The relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms in adolescents during high stress: The moderating role of emotion regulation

Introduction This study examined the moderating role of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation in the relationship between general perceived stress and depressive symptoms during the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) lockdown in March–April 2020 in Belgium, while controlling for past de...

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Published in:Journal of adolescence (London, England.) England.), 2022-12, Vol.94 (8), p.1179-1187
Main Authors: Braet, Jolien, Giletta, Matteo, Wante, Laura, Van Beveren, Marie‐Lotte, Verbeken, Sandra, Goossens, Lien, Lomeo, Beatrice, Anslot, Eline, Braet, Caroline
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Communicable Disease Control
COVID-19
depression
emotion regulation
Emotional Regulation
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Mental depression
Pandemics
perceived stress
Stress
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Symptoms
Teenagers
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Summary:Introduction This study examined the moderating role of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation in the relationship between general perceived stress and depressive symptoms during the first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) lockdown in March–April 2020 in Belgium, while controlling for past depressive symptoms in 2016. Methods Participants were 110 adolescents (55% female; Mage = 16, SDage = 1.80) who filled out different questionnaires assessing maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation strategies (ERS), perceived stress, and depressive symptoms. Results Results revealed that only maladaptive ERS statistically significantly moderated the relationship between perceived stress and depressive symptoms. More specifically, the amount of perceived stress is positively associated with the level of depressive symptoms, especially in adolescents who use more maladaptive ERS. Conclusion The repertoire of adaptive ERS might not be sufficient for adolescents to flexibly cope with a highly stressful situation such as the COVID‐19 pandemic and lockdown. Study findings highlight the need to support youth, particularly those who use more maladaptive ERS, in adaptively coping with intense stressful life events.
ISSN:0140-1971
1095-9254
DOI:10.1002/jad.12091