Negative Dimensions of Coparenting and Internalizing Symptoms: Emotional Regulation as a Mediator

Abstract

The objective of this study was to test a structural model in which emotional regulation mediates the negative dimensions of coparenting and internalizing symptoms in adolescents. The sample consisted of 229 adolescents aged 11 to 18 years. Structural equations modeling was used to test the empirical validity of the proposed theoretical model. The results indicated that emotional regulation mediates the association between negative dimensions of coparenting and internalizing symptoms in adolescents. In contrast, a direct link between coparenting and internalizing symptoms did not remain significant in the mediation model. It is concluded that emotional regulation plays a determining role in the development of internalizing symptoms in the context of coparental difficulties.

Keywords:
affective symptoms; emotional regulation; family relations