The purpose of the present study is to exame the emotional regulation of children with and without depressive symptoms. The sample was composed of 54 Basic Education students of 3rd and 4th grades. Of the total sample, 27 presented depressive symptoms (G1) and 27 did not (G2). Data was collected through Child Depressive Inventory - CDI (Kovacs, 1992) and an interview with questions to evaluate the emotional regulation of basic education pupils - EPRE (Cruvinel & Boruchovitch, 2004). Results evinced that both groups employ similar emotional regulation strategies. However, students with depressive symptoms not only reported more sadness and anger feelings, but also demonstrated more difficulty to identify their sadness, happiness and fear. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of implementing programs, not only devoted to prevent depression in childhood and adolescence, but also aimed at improving basic students well-being and emotional regulations strategies.
emotional regulation; depressive symptoms; basic education
