Emotion Regulation Strategies and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Aggression, and Addiction in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Emotion regulation has been put forward as an important transdiagnostic process. However, previous analyses of the relationships between emotion regulation strategies and symptoms of psychopathology in children and adolescents have produced mixed results. The present meta-analysis examines the relationships between youth's habitual use of three adaptive (acceptance, problem-solving, and cognitive reappraisal) and three maladaptive (rumination, avoidance, and suppression) strategies with symptoms of depression, anxiety, aggression, and addiction. A total of 181 articles with 386 effect sizes were analyzed. Rumination, avoidance, and acceptance showed the largest effect sizes across all symptoms. Maladaptive strategies showed, in general, larger effect sizes than adaptive strategies. Effect sizes were generally larger for internalizing compared to externalizing symptoms. The findings underscore the importance of emotion regulation for mental health in youth. Public Health Significance Statement Emotion regulation strategies are significantly linked to symptoms of psychopathology in youth. Rumination, avoidance, and acceptance show the largest effects across symptoms. Emotion regulation strategies should be taught in school and clinical practice for prevention and treatment.