Emotion regulation predicts symptoms of depression over five years

Matthias Berking; Carolin M Wirtz; Jennifer Svaldi; Stefan G Hofmann

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2014.03.003

Emotion regulation predicts symptoms of depression over five years

Behav Res Ther. 2014 Jun:57:13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2014.03.003. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Authors

Matthias Berking¹, Carolin M Wirtz², Jennifer Svaldi³, Stefan G Hofmann⁴

Affiliations

¹ Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Naegelsbachstrasse 25, 91052 Erlangen, Germany; Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Gutenbergstrasse 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Naegelsbachstrasse 25, 91052 Erlangen, Germany; Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Gutenbergstrasse 18, 35032 Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ University of Freiburg, Department of Psychology, Engelbergerstrasse 41, 79085 Freiburg im Breisgrau, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Boston University, Department of Psychology, 648 Beacon Street, 6th Fl., Boston, 02215 MA, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 24754907
DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2014.03.003

Abstract

Deficits in emotion regulation have been identified as an important risk and maintaining factor for depression. The aim of this study was to examine the long-term effects of emotion regulation on symptoms of depression. Moreover, we investigated which specific emotion regulation skills were associated with subsequent symptoms of depression. Participants were 116 individuals (78% women, average age 35.2 years) who registered for an online-based assessment of depression and its risk-factors and reported at least some symptoms of depression. Successful application of emotion regulation skills and depressive symptom severity were assessed twice over a 5-year period. We utilized cross-lagged panel analyses to assess whether successful skills application would be negatively associated with subsequent depressive symptom severity. Cross-lagged panel analyses identified successful skills application as a significant predictor for depressive symptom severity even when controlling for the effects of initial symptoms of depression. A comparison of the effect sizes for different emotion regulation skills on subsequent depressive symptoms suggests that most of the skills included have similar predictive value. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the hypotheses that deficits in emotion regulation may contribute to the development of depression and that interventions systematically enhancing adaptive emotion regulation skills may help prevent and treat depressive symptoms.

Keywords: Depression; Emotion regulation; Prospective study; Risk factors; Skills.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Depression / psychology*
Depression / therapy*
Emotions*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Male
Models, Psychological
Patient Education as Topic*
Risk Factors
Symptom Assessment
Time Factors
Young Adult