Mechanisms Linking Stressful Life Events and Mental Health Problems in a Prospective,Community-Based Sample of Adolescents |
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| Authors: | Katie A McLaughlin Mark L Hatzenbuehler |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;2. Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA;3. Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women''s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA;4. Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children''s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA;5. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA;6. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA;1. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States;2. Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States;1. Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;2. Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;3. Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Tech – Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24061, USA |
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| Abstract: | PurposeStressful life events represent potent risk factors for the development of internalizing symptoms among adolescents. However the mechanisms linking stress to adolescent psychopathology remain inadequately understood. This study examined the role of emotion dysregulation as a mechanism linking stress to changes in internalizing symptoms among adolescents.MethodsThis study used a short-term longitudinal design. Stressful life events were assessed in a large diverse sample of adolescents (N = 1065), and emotion dysregulation and symptomatology outcomes were assessed at two subsequent time points. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the role of emotion dysregulation as a mediator of the association between stress and subsequent changes in internalizing symptoms.ResultsEmotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between stressful life events and changes in internalizing symptoms over time. Sobel's test indicated a significant indirect effect of stressful life events on subsequent symptoms of depression (z = 5.05, p < .001) and anxiety (z = 4.95, p < .001) through emotion dysregulation.ConclusionsStressful life events appear to disrupt the adaptive processing of emotion among adolescents. Emotion dysregulation represents an intrapersonal mechanism linking stress to poor mental health outcomes. The implications for preventive interventions are discussed. |
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