Detained youth are at an increased risk of developing internalizing symptoms. Belongingness theory suggests that youth’s perception of belonging within their family may further elucidate this risk. In addition, alexithymia may explicate symptoms, yet these constructs have yet to be evaluated in detained youth. The present study examined the interaction between alexithymia and family belonging on depression and anxiety symptoms of 94 youth in a juvenile detention facility. Results suggest that lack of family belonging and high alexithymia are independently associated with greater internalizing symptoms. Findings indicated a need for interventions targeting family belonging and emotion regulation to address internalizing problems for youth.
Emotion regulation strategy usage explains links between institutional caregiving and elevated internalizing symptoms
Early adversity, including institutional orphanage care, is associated with the development of internalizing disorders. Previous research suggests that institutionalization can disrupt emotion regulation processes, which contribute to internalizing symptoms. However, no prior work has investigated how early orphanage care shapes emotion regulation strategy usage (e.g., cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) and whether the said strategy usage contributes to internalizing symptoms. This study probed emotion regulation strategy usage and internalizing symptoms in a sample of 36 previously institutionalized and 58 comparison youth. As hypothesized, previously institutionalized youth exhibited higher rates of internalizing symptoms than comparison youth, and more frequent use of suppression partially accounted for the relationship between early institutional care and elevated internalizing symptoms. Contrary to our initial hypotheses, reappraisal use did not buffer previously institutionalized or comparison youth against internalizing symptoms. Our findings highlight the potential utility of targeting emotion regulation strategy usage in adversity‐exposed youth in future intervention work.
- Award ID(s):
- 1848004
- Publication Date:
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10218053
- Journal Name:
- Developmental Psychobiology
- ISSN:
- 0012-1630
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Publisher's Version of Record
- https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.22078
