Attachment and internalizing symptoms: The mediating role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy among Chinese young adolescents. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pan, Yangu; Zhang, Dajun; Liu, Yanling; Ran, Guangming; Wang, Zhi
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 101(2016)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Attachment -- Internalizing symptoms -- Regulatory emotional self-efficacy -- Young adolescents; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.06.030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test whether the association between attachment and internalizing symptoms was mediated by regulatory emotional self-efficacy. A total of 763 Chinese young adolescents (48% male; aged 11–17 years, M = 12.79 years, SD = 0.75) completed measures of paternal, maternal, and peer attachment and regulatory emotional self-efficacy, while each adolescent's parent completed a measure of adolescent internalizing symptoms. Mediating effect was tested by using structural equation modeling. The results indicated that the relations of paternal, maternal, or peer attachment with internalizing symptoms were fully mediated by regulatory emotional self-efficacy. Furthermore, the indirect effect of the perceived capability to regulate negative affect was stronger than that of the perceived capability to express positive affect. These findings suggest that regulatory emotional self-efficacy could be one mechanism explaining how young adolescents' parental or peer attachment influences their internalizing symptoms. Highlights: Maternal, paternal, and peer attachments related to internalizing symptoms Regulatory emotional self-efficacy was a mediator in this relationship. Self-efficacy in regulating negative affect was a stronger mediator.