Effects of behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system and emotion regulations on depression of adolescents

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of behavioral inhibition system/activation system (BIS/BAS) and emotion regulations on depression of adolescents. Methods 800 adolescents from an university and a middle school were chosen by cluster random sampling, and were surveyed by BIS/BAS scale, Beck depression inventory(BDI), center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CESD) and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ). The data were analyzed by pearson correlation, F test and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Results (1)BDI and CESD were correlated positively with BIS (r=0.39, 0.41, P<0.01), self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, blame others and perspective(r=0.19-0.50, P<0.05-0.01), and negatively with planning, reappraisal(r=-0.08-0.24, P<0.05). (2)The scores of severe depression group were highest(15.45±2.57, P<0.01) in BIS, lowest in BAS-drive(9.60±2.99, P<0.01), and nonadaptive emotion regulations were used mostly, and adaptive emotion regulations were done leastly.(3)Catastrophizing, BIS, reappraisal, rumination, refocusing and self-blame explained 35% of total variance, and catastrophizing and BIS explained the largest proportion, respectively 25% and 4%. Conclusion BIS/BAS and emotion regulations may be important factors influencing non-clinical depression of adolescents. Key words: Adolescent depression; Behavioral inhibition system; Behavioral activation system; Emotion regulation