The Research Desk
Scientists at South China Normal University found that interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) boosts life satisfaction and reduces depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Interpersonal emotion regulation and emotional adjustment among Chinese early adolescents: Within-person associations with depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.
- Relationships
- Positive emotion
Chen, J., Gong, X., Huang, L., Zhang, B., Ren, P.
In plain language
This study examines how interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) relates to emotional adjustment in Chinese early adolescents. Specifically, it looks at the bidirectional associations between IER and both depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. The research uses data from 795 adolescents over six months, focusing on four IER strategies: enhancing positive affect, perspective taking, soothing, and social modeling.
The findings reveal that IER is positively linked to life satisfaction and negatively linked to depressive symptoms at a broad level. However, within individuals, the impact of specific IER strategies on life satisfaction varies over time. Notably, depressive symptoms can lead to reduced engagement in IER, particularly in soothing activities.
Key findings
- IER is positively associated with life satisfaction at the between-person level.
- IER is negatively associated with depressive symptoms at the between-person level.
- Specific IER strategies have different effects on life satisfaction within individuals over time.
- Depressive symptoms can lead to reduced engagement in IER, especially in soothing.
- The study underscores the importance of directionality in the IER and emotional adjustment relationship.
Why it matters
Understanding how IER strategies contribute to life satisfaction can help adolescents improve their emotional well-being.
Try this today
Readers can encourage adolescents to engage in positive IER strategies, such as enhancing positive affect and perspective taking, to boost life satisfaction and emotional health.