Dysfunctional Emotion Regulation Strategies Research Articles

The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3).

In recent years, researchers from different fields have become increasingly interested in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait. Although there are several questionnaires that allow for an assessment of people's perceptions of their mind wandering experiences, they either define mind wandering in a very broad sense or do not sufficiently separate different aspects of mind wandering. Here, we introduce the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3), a 12-item questionnaire available in German and English. The BMW-3 conceptualizes mind wandering as task-unrelated thought and measures three dimensions of mind wandering: unintentional mind wandering, intentional mind wandering, and meta-awareness of mind wandering. Based on results from 1038 participants (823 German speakers, 215 English speakers), we found support for the proposed three-factorial structure of mind wandering and for scalar measurement invariance of the German and English versions. All subscales showed good internal consistencies and moderate to high test-retest correlations and thus provide an effective assessment of individual differences in mind wandering. Moreover, the BMW-3 showed good convergent validity when compared to existing retrospective measures of mind wandering and mindfulness and was related to conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness as well as self-reported attentional control. Lastly, it predicted the propensity for mind wandering inside and outside the lab (as assessed by in-the-moment experience sampling), the frequency of experiencing depressive symptoms, and the use of functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. All in all, the BMW-3 provides a brief, reliable, and valid assessment of mind wandering for basic and clinical research.

“Are darker individuals in control?”: A path model of the Dark Triad, Emotional Regulation and Locus of Control

Among the socially aversive personality traits, the Dark Triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) is one of the most prominent. It is known that there is an association between these traits and emotional regulation and control strategies. However, further empirical support is needed to understand how these traits simultaneously influence each other. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Dark Triad, emotion dysregulation strategies, and locus of control using a predictive model. The participants consisted of 305 individuals aged 18 to 59 years (M = 32.5; SD = 12.05) who responded to the Dirty Dozen (DD), the Emotional Dysregulation Scale (EDEA), the Locus of Control Scale (ELOCUS), and the Baptist Depression Scale (EBADEP). Our results suggest positive associations of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism with maladaptive emotional dysregulation strategies, and these strategies predicted external locus of control. Therefore, individuals with darker traits tend to employ dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies and consequently attribute external events as the cause of such outcomes.

Bullying perpetration: the role of attachment, emotion regulation and empathy

ABSTRACT Empathy and emotion regulation are potential individual factors and attachment is a potential contextual factor influencing bullying perpetration. The joint consideration of these factors in an integrative model has so far been absent from current research. The aim of the current study is to contribute to this research gap. Specifically, we examined the direct and indirect effects of attachment, empathy/perspective taking, functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study with N = 201 students (55.7% female) between 10 and 15 years (M = 12.86; SD = 1.29). In the structural equation model significant direct effects from attachment on bullying perpetration, empathy/perspective taking and on functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation were found. Additionally, direct effects from dysfunctional emotion regulation on bullying perpetration were identified. Dysfunctional emotion regulation mediates the effect from attachment on bullying perpetration. Gender and age were controlled. The results highlight the need to promote empathy/perspective taking and reduce the use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. Possible implications for the school are discussed.

Effect of Personality Traits and Emotion Regulation Strategies on Risky Behaviors in Adolescents.

The current study investigated the effects of personality traits and emotion regulation strategies on high-risk behaviors among adolescents (N = 1,572). This study used a cross-sectional and correlational research design. Multiple linear regression was used for analysis. A 1-unit increase in extraversion and neuroticism led to a 0.391- and 0.365-unit increase in high-risk behaviors, respectively. However, a 1-unit increase in agreeableness and conscientiousness led to a 0.307- and 0.365-unit decrease in high-risk behaviors, respectively (p < 0.05). A 1-unit increase in external and internal dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies led to a 1.34- and 0.548-unit increase in high-risk behaviors, respectively. However, a 1-unit increase in internal functional emotion regulation strategies led to a 0.641-unit decrease in high-risk behaviors (p < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that age, school type, sex, grade level, father's educational level, father's child-rearing style, and school performance were associated with more high-risk behaviors (p < 0.05). There were correlations between some personality traits, emotion regulation strategies, sociodemographic characteristics, and high-risk behaviors. Early intervention programs targeting dysfunctional personality traits and emotion regulation skills in adolescence may prevent the development of risky behaviors in adulthood. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(2), 23-36.].

Understanding the Complexities of Adolescent Bullying: The Interplay between Peer Relationships, Emotion Regulation, and Victimization

Bullying is a major social problem that is receiving increased attention in society and research. The overarching goal of the current study was to identify risk and protective factors of bullying examining direct effects between peer relationship, emotion regulation, and bullying involvement. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted with N = 201 students (55.7% female) between the ages of 10 and 15 ( M = 12.86 ; SD = 1.29 ). Path model analysis revealed that trust had a negative effect on victimization, dysfunctional emotion regulation had a positive effect on perpetration and victimization, alienation had a positive effect on dysfunctional emotion regulation, and victimization and communication had a positive effect on functional emotion regulation. Additionally, dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies mediate the path from alienation to bullying and to victimization. Study results underline the importance of considering the bullying dynamic from a combined perspective of intra- and interindividual factors. The results partially confirmed the hypotheses and contribute to our knowledge about individual and contextual correlates of bullying in adolescents. The present findings suggest that group facilitation with the entire class in team building could be a useful intervention to strengthen peer relationships as well as the relationships between classmates and teachers and students.

Different functions of emotion regulation in linking harmony seeking and rejection avoidance to life satisfaction and social support in Germany, Hong Kong, and Japan

This study examined whether two facets of interdependence, harmony seeking and rejection avoidance, were differently related to life satisfaction and social support from friends across cultures through the differential use of emotion regulation strategies. Specifically, we propose that individuals who seek harmony and avoid rejection regulate emotions differently to achieve social adaptation in their sociocultural contexts. University students from Germany (n = 129), Hong Kong (n = 136), and Japan (n = 123) completed our online survey. Data were analysed through multigroup structural equation modelling. Across cultures, harmony seeking was positively while rejection avoidance was negatively related to indices of social functioning (life satisfaction or social support). For Germans, emotion regulation (more rumination, less reappraisal, more suppression) completely mediated the associations of rejection avoidance with life satisfaction. Germans may emotionally overreact when fearing rejection, which is reflected in using dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. In contrast, rejection avoidance was only weakly related to emotional dysregulation among Hong Kong Chinese and Japanese who might be adapted to fearing exclusion due to living in low relational mobility societies. Our findings demonstrate cultural similarities and differences in the interplay of harmony seeking and rejection avoidance with emotion regulation, life satisfaction, and social support.

Emotion regulation in selective mutism: A comparison group study in children and adolescents with selective mutism

A deficit in emotion regulation skills could be an important factor influencing the vulnerability and maintenance of symptoms in selective mutism (SM). Unfortunately, to date only a few studies have examined emotion regulation in SM. Therefore, the present study investigated whether SM is associated with dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. We compared a sample of 28 children and adolescents with SM (M = 12.66 years, SD = 3.98; 18 females) to 33 controls without SM (M = 12.45 years, SD = 3.18; 21 females). Both groups were investigated for the assessment of SM, social anxiety and emotion regulation using self and parent report questionnaires. We assumed that the disorder is associated with less adaptive and more maladaptive strategies, especially maladaptive cognitive strategies. Instead of significant differences in these overall values, only significant differences in individual emotion regulation strategies were found. In terms of adaptive strategies, children and adolescents with SM reported less problem-oriented behaviour and less cognitive problem-solving. Instead, they reported the maladaptive strategy of abandonment more often than the control group. In contrast to other anxiety disorders, children and adolescents with SM did neither report maladaptive cognitive strategies nor seek support more frequently than the control group. Their emotion regulation strategies are qualitatively closely related to the symptoms of SM, which makes it difficult to determine their independent significance.Trial registration: This study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04233905.

Primary emotions as predictors for fear of COVID-19 in former inpatients with Major Depressive Disorder and healthy control participants

IntroductionThere are reports of an increase in depressive symptoms and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular in patients with depression. This study investigates factors related to fear of COVID-19 in former inpatients suffering from depression and healthy controls by assessing variables typically associated with depression and anxiety disorders, i.e. stressful life events (SLEs), the primary emotions SADNESS, PLAY and SEEKING as well as dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies with respect to suppression and reappraisal.MethodsData of n = 44 former inpatients suffering from depression and n = 49 healthy controls were collected. The study had a longitudinal design with two measurement points. Before the pandemic, SLEs, primary emotions, emotion regulation and depression severity were assessed. During the pandemic, COVID-19 associated stressors and life events, emotion regulation, depression severity and fear of COVID-19 were assessed.ResultsFear of COVID-19 and depression severity during the pandemic were significantly higher in former inpatients than in healthy controls. Depression diagnosis, SLEs and depression severity before the pandemic were significant positive predictors of fear of COVID-19. The primary emotion PLAY was a significant negative predictor of fear of COVID-19. Depression severity did not change significantly in healthy controls.ConclusionThe results show that risk factors for depression might be risk factors for high fear of COVID-19. In addition, a playful personality could help preventing mental stress in pandemic situations. Thus, positivity based interventions could counteract elevated fear scores during a pandemic.

Emotion coping strategies and dysfunctional sleep-related beliefs are associated with objective sleep problems in young adults with insomnia

BackgroundThough insomnia is associated with affected emotion regulation and dysfunctional ideas about sleep, little is known about the relation of these problems with objective sleep disruption. We aimed to explore this relationship in young adults with and without insomnia. MethodsTwenty young adults with diagnosed insomnia disorder (aged 27.7 ± 8.6 years) and twenty age-matched individuals without insomnia (26.7 ± 7.0 years) completed questionnaires, measuring sleep-related thoughts and emotions and emotion regulation. Objective sleep measurements were collected through 10-days actigraphy as a representative sample of nights, and analyzed for sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency total sleep time. T-tests and multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) were conducted for sample characterization and analysis of the association of sleep-related thoughts and emotions and emotion regulation with objective sleep data. ResultsAs expected, young people showed more dysfunctional sleep-related thoughts and emotions (all ps ≤ 0.025) and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies (all ps ≤ 0.040). Surprisingly, MANOVA results showed that only emotion coping strategies after a stressful event (p = 0.017) and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep (p = 0.012), but not other factors of arousal or sleep reactivity, were associated with overall worse sleep, especially sleep onset latency (all ps ≤ 0.012) and sleep efficiency (all ps ≤ 0.010). ConclusionsMaladaptive emotion coping strategies after a stressful event and dysfunctional sleep-related beliefs and attitudes affect objective sleep onset latency and sleep efficiency in young adults, highlighting the importance of targeting these features in the prevention and treatment of chronic insomnia and improving actual sleep quality.

The Relationship Between Covid-related Psychological Distress and Perceived Stress With Emotional Eating in Iranian Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation

Objective: The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and cessation of full face-to-face affiliation along with homebound restrictions have caused a variety of psychological distress among adolescents. Adolescents vary in the way they perceive such stressors and some respond with eating disturbances, which could reflect their dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. The present research aimed at elucidating potential mediating pathways from perceived stress and psychological distress to emotional eating. Methods: This cross-sectional study was composed of 292 adolescents who were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale, COVID-19-Related Psychological Stress Scale, Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Correlation analyses were performed to assess the relationship between variables. ANOVA was conducted to detect differences between males and females for emotional eating. Then, a mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether emotional dysregulation was a mediator between psychological distress and emotional eating. Results: Results of path analyses indicated that a model with perceived stress and psychological distress predicting emotion eating through the mediation of emotion dysregulation was the best fit for the data (CFI=0.970, GFI=0.949, df=26, χ2=53.69, χ2/df=2.06, P&gt;0.05, and RMSEA=0.069). Mediation analyses showed the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the link between perceived stress and emotional eating (Sobel’s z=2.83, P&lt;0.05) while, it could not function as a mediator between psychological distress and emotional eating (Sobel’s z=0.90, P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: This study contributes to our understanding of the role of emotion regulation in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological distress and emotional eating in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The implication of this study is for therapeutic intervention to target emotional dysregulation of adolescents confronted with COVID-19 stressors.

Role of the Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Downregulating Negative Emotions: A tDCS Study

Suicide has been associated with dysfunctional strategies for emotion regulation but, so far, research findings have been inconclusive.To investigate how difficulties in emotion regulation impact suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior, 111 psychiatric inpatients were enrolled. Affective instability (AI), emotional impulsivity (EI), and negative and positive emotionality (NE and PE) were measured by the RIPoSt-40 questionnaire; the first three subscales have been summed to form a total negative emotion dysregulation (NED) score.In the sample, 55 subjects reported at least one-lifetime suicide attempt; 50 patients were diagnosed with mood-disorder (MD), 30 with the schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD), and 15 with personality-disorder (PD).Diagnostic groups differed for NED scores (p=.008) but not for PE (p>0.05), with patients suffering from PD having higher scores (p=0.03). Compared to non-attempters, lifetime-suicide attempters were 6.5 times more likely to have a personality disorder (95% CI=1.34/31.83). Partial correlation analyses, controlling for the presence of suicide attempts, showed that lifetime SI-intensity score was significantly and positively associated with NED (r=.39, p<.001), AI (r=.40, p<.001), and NE (r=.42, p<.001). NED scores (p=.001) and the presence of lifetime suicide attempts (p<.001) were independently associated with lifetime SI-intensity scores.The lack of a non-clinical control group and the cross sectional nature of the study limits the generalizability of the results.Our findings support the hypothesis that negative emotion dysregulation is independently associated with SI and behavior. Negative emotion dysregulation should be targeted in suicide prevention.

Alexithymia and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Adolescent Gamblers with and Without At-Risk Profiles

Alexithymia, difficulties in emotion regulation, and negative affect play an important role in adolescents who present pathological gambling. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were, firstly, to analyze the differences between alexithymia, difficulties in emotion regulation, and positive and negative affect in adolescents with and without risk of gambling problems. Secondly, the relationships between all the variables of the study in adolescents with and without risk of problem gambling were analyzed separately. Thirdly, we analyzed the mediating role of positive and negative affect in the relationship between alexithymia and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies (ERS) in adolescents at risk of gambling problems. The sample was composed of 206 adolescents with ages ranging from 12 to 18 years (M = 15.52; SD = 1.43). They were divided into two groups according to the score obtained in the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA). Thus, 84 were included in the group without risk of gambling problems and 122 in the group at risk of gambling problems. The results obtained revealed higher scores in negative affect and pathological gambling in the group at risk of gambling problems. Likewise, positive relationships between alexithymia, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies (MERS), and affect were found. Mediation analyses showed that difficulties in identifying feelings were indirectly related to greater use of dysfunctional ERS through their relationship with negative affect in at-risk gamblers.

Neurophysiological correlates of disorder-related autobiographical memory in anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by an overgeneralization of food/body-related autobiographical memories (AM). This is regarded as an emotion regulation strategy with adverse long-term effects implicated in disorder maintenance and treatment resistance. Therefore, we aimed to examine neural correlates of food/body-related AM-recall in AN. Twenty-nine female patients with AN and 30 medication-free age-sex-matched normal-weight healthy controls (HC) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while recalling AMs in response to food/body-related and neutral cue words. To control for general knowledge retrieval, participants engaged in a semantic generation and riser detection task. In comparison to HC, patients with AN generated fewer and less specific AMs in response to food/body-related words, but not for neutral cue words. Group comparisons revealed reduced activation in regions associated with self-referential processing and memory retrieval (precuneus and angular gyrus) during the retrieval of specific food/body-related AM in patients with AN. Brain connectivity in regions associated with memory functioning and executive control was reduced in patients with AN during the retrieval of specific food/body-related AM. Finally, resting-state functional connectivity analysis revealed no differences between groups, arguing against a general underlying disconnection of brain networks implicated in memory and emotional processing in AN. These results indicate impaired neural processing of food/body-related AM in AN, with a reduced involvement of regions involved in self-referential processing. Our findings are discussed as possible neuronal correlates of emotional avoidance in AN and provide new insights of AN-pathophysiology underscoring the importance of targeting dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies during treatment.

The Cardiovascular Conundrum in Ethnic and Sexual Minorities: A Potential Biomarker of Constant Coping With Discrimination.

Background: A paradoxical profile of greater elevated sympathetic vasoconstriction (increased total peripheral resistance, TPR) and increased vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV) -the so-called Cardiovascular Conundrum- has been reported in African Americans (AAs) both at rest and in response to orthostasis. Whereas some authors have attributed this pattern to genetic factors, others have pointed to the potential role of coping with repeated racial discrimination.Objective: To disentangle between these alternative explanations, we have examined the hemodynamic profile of another population that is likely to be exposed to episodes of discrimination, i.e., sexual minorities.Methods: The first study was conducted on a sample of AAs and European Americans (EAs) with the aim of replicating previous results on the Cardiovascular Conundrum. In the second study, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, matched by age and sex with heterosexual participants, underwent a hemodynamic and autonomic assessment at rest and during an emotional (in the experimental group, both LGB-related and non LGB related), and a cognitive stressor.Results: The first study confirmed a pattern of higher resting HRV, paired with higher TPR, in AAs compared to EAs. In the second study, compared to heterosexuals, the LGB group showed the Cardiovascular Conundrum pattern, characterized by greater HRV and higher TPR at baseline and a more vascular hemodynamic profile and prominent compensation deficit in response to both tasks, and particularly during the LGB-related emotional task. However, in LGB only, the vascular response was negatively correlated with perceived discrimination.Conclusion: Present preliminary results are discussed in terms of maladaptive physiological consequences of exposure to chronic stress and the chronic use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies such as suppression.

Attachment and Externalizing Behavior: Mediation through Dysfunctional Emotion Regulation and Callous-Unemotional Traits

The aim of the current study was to investigate whether the association between parental attachment and externalizing behavior is parallelly mediated by dysfunctional emotion regulation and callous-unemotional traits. The community sample included 296 adolescents (Mage = 14.90, SDage = 1.31), who completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits, the Regulation of Emotions Questionnaire, and the Youth Self-Report Child Behavior Checklist. A mediation analysis revealed both direct and indirect effects. Secure attachment representations were negatively associated with internal- and external dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies and callous-unemotional traits, which in turn were positively associated with externalizing behavior problems. The current study expands previous research by simultaneously investigating familial and cognitive factors that foster externalizing behavior problems. An attachment-based perspective offers new possibilities for theory expansion, research directions, and the development of interventions.

Negative emotion dysregulation is linked to the intensity of suicidal ideation in a mixed inpatient sample

BackgroundSuicide has been associated with dysfunctional strategies for emotion regulation but, so far, research findings have been inconclusive. MethodsTo investigate how difficulties in emotion regulation impact suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior, 111 psychiatric inpatients were enrolled. Affective instability (AI), emotional impulsivity (EI), and negative and positive emotionality (NE and PE) were measured by the RIPoSt-40 questionnaire; the first three subscales have been summed to form a total negative emotion dysregulation (NED) score. ResultsIn the sample, 55 subjects reported at least one-lifetime suicide attempt; 50 patients were diagnosed with mood-disorder (MD), 30 with the schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD), and 15 with personality-disorder (PD).Diagnostic groups differed for NED scores (p=.008) but not for PE (p>0.05), with patients suffering from PD having higher scores (p=0.03). Compared to non-attempters, lifetime-suicide attempters were 6.5 times more likely to have a personality disorder (95% CI=1.34/31.83). Partial correlation analyses, controlling for the presence of suicide attempts, showed that lifetime SI-intensity score was significantly and positively associated with NED (r=.39, p<.001), AI (r=.40, p<.001), and NE (r=.42, p<.001). NED scores (p=.001) and the presence of lifetime suicide attempts (p<.001) were independently associated with lifetime SI-intensity scores. LimitationsThe lack of a non-clinical control group and the cross sectional nature of the study limits the generalizability of the results. ConclusionOur findings support the hypothesis that negative emotion dysregulation is independently associated with SI and behavior. Negative emotion dysregulation should be targeted in suicide prevention.

Linking psychophysiological adaptation, emotion regulation, and subjective stress to the occurrence of paranoia in daily life

As stress is relevant to the formation of paranoia, maladaptive behavioral and physiological stress regulation is discussed as a crucial indicator of vulnerability. This is supported by research linking psychosis to the tendency to make less use of functional and more use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies (ER) and with a lower vagally-mediated heart rate variability (HRV). However, it remains unclear whether ER serves as a mediator between resting-state HRV on the one hand and subjective stress levels and paranoia on the other and whether this is specific to paranoia as compared to depression. We used an experience sampling method during seven days to repeatedly assess the experience of stress, usage of ER strategies, paranoia und depression (9/day) in a sample with subclinical positive symptoms (N = 32). Resting-state HRV was measured during a 5min interval in the laboratory. Data was analyzed by multi-level models. Higher resting-state HRV was predictive of lower stress-levels and of using more functional ER strategies (reappraisal, acceptance) in daily life, but did not predict the use of dysfunctional strategies (rumination, suppression) or paranoia. The association between resting-state HRV and stress was mediated by the usage of functional ER. Less functional and more dysfunctional ER were linked to higher levels of stress, paranoia and depression. Our study highlights that deficits in ER represent a link between psychophysiological and phenomenological aspects of paranoia but also of depression. This encourages to further investigate transdiagnostic prevention and therapy programs aiming to improve ER and to increase HRV.

Effects of Differential Strategies of Emotion Regulation

Patients suffering from mental disorders, especially anxiety disorders, are often impaired by inadequate emotional reactions. Specific aspects are the insufficient perception of their own emotional states and the use of dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. Both aspects are interdependent. Thus, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) comprises the development and training of adequate emotion regulation strategies. Traditionally, reappraisal is the most common strategy, but strategies of acceptance are becoming more important in the course of advancing CBT. Indeed, there is evidence that emotion regulation strategies differ in self-reported effectiveness, psychophysiological reactions, and underlying neural correlates. However, comprehensive comparisons of different emotion regulation strategies are sparse. The present study, therefore, compared the effect of three common emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal, acceptance, and suppression) on self-reported effectiveness, recollection, and psychophysiological as well as electroencephalographic dimensions. Twenty-nine healthy participants were instructed to either reappraise, accept, suppress, or passively observe their upcoming emotional reactions while anxiety- and sadness-inducing pictures were presented. Results showed a compelling effect of reappraisal on emotional experience, skin conductance response, and P300 amplitude. Acceptance was almost as effective as reappraisal, but led to increased emotional experience. Combining all results, suppression was shown to be the least effective but significantly decreased emotional experience when thoughts and feelings had to be suppressed. Moreover, results show that greater propensity for rumination differentially impairs strategies of emotion regulation.

Psychological Security in At-Risk Youth: Attachment, Emotion Regulation, and PTSD Symptom Severity

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be influenced by attachment insecurities and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies in children at risk for mental health difficulties, such as children in foster care or in low socioeconomic status (SES) homes. Yet relatively little research exists on attachment and emotion regulation in at-risk adolescents, including in youth with foster care experience. We examined attachment dimensions (attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety) and emotion regulation strategies (expressive emotion suppression and cognitive reappraisal) as predictors of PTSD symptom severity in a sample of 17-year-olds in foster care (n = 146) compared to a low SES sample of 17-year-olds with no foster care experience (n = 83). Greater attachment avoidance and greater attachment anxiety were associated with higher PTSD symptom severity scores regardless of foster care status. Cognitive reappraisal was associated with less severe PTSD symptoms for foster and non-foster youth. Policy and practice implications for at-risk youth’s rights to psychological security are discussed.

Same Same but Different: A Clinical Characterization of Men with Hypersexual Disorder in the Sex@Brain Study.

Problems arising from hypersexual behavior are often seen in clinical settings. We aimed to extend the knowledge about the clinical characteristics of individuals with hypersexual disorder (HD). A group of people who fulfilled the proposed diagnostic criteria for HD (men with HD, n = 50) was compared to a group of healthy controls (n = 40). We investigated differences in sociodemographic, neurodevelopmental, and family factors based on self-report questionnaires and clinical interviews. Men with HD reported elevated rates of sexual activity, paraphilias, consumption of child abusive images, and sexual coercive behavior compared to healthy controls. Moreover, rates of affective disorders, attachment difficulties, impulsivity, and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies were higher in men with HD. Men with HD seem to have experienced various forms of adverse childhood experiences, but there were no further differences in sociodemographic, neurodevelopmental factors, and family factors. Regression analyses indicated that attachment-related avoidance and early onset of masturbation differentiated between men with HD and healthy controls. In conclusion, men with HD appear to have the same neurodevelopment, intelligence levels, sociodemographic background, and family factors compared to healthy controls, but they report different and adverse experiences in childhood, problematic sexual behavior, and psychological difficulties.