Application of the actor-partner interdependence model in parent-adolescent emotion regulation and depression

Background: The family environment is an important context for the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms within families. In this study, we evaluated whether parent and adolescent self-reports of emotion regulation constructs are linked with their own (actor effects) and each other's (partner effects) depressive symptoms.

Methods: Participants were 123 adolescent-parent dyads, recruited from adolescent inpatient and partial hospitalization programs, who completed self-report assessments of emotion dysregulation and depression.

Results: Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), results revealed expected actor effects for emotion regulation strategies, but not impulsiveness. A significant partner effect for parents' impulsiveness and adolescents' depressive symptoms was observed, demonstrating the interdependent nature of these characteristics in the sample. Interpretation of APIM model coefficients indicated that greater parent impulsiveness was associated with less adolescent depression symptom severity.

Limitations: Limitations include a small sample of primarily Caucasian adolescents who were receiving intensive psychiatric services making generalizability more challenging. The sample also consisted of largely mothers which is important to consider given there are known gender differences in rates of depression and sensitivity to interpersonal processes.

Conclusions: Overall, findings shed light on the nature of these characteristics within the families of depressed adolescents and the role of emotion regulation in the parent-child relationship. Implications of this work and future studies are discussed.