Chronic Family Stress and Adolescent Health: The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation

Psychosom Med. 2018 Oct;80(8):764-773. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000624.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess whether the association between chronic family stress and physiological measures is moderated by emotion regulation strategies in an adolescent sample.

Methods: Chronic family stress was assessed via a semistructured interview and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and suppression) via questionnaire among 261 adolescents (14.57 (1.07) years). Several metabolic (waist-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and inflammatory markers (basal and stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production in response to bacterial challenge) as well as glucocorticoid sensitivity were assessed.

Results: There were no main effects of chronic family stress, cognitive reappraisal, or suppression on physiological measures (all p's > .10). Emotion regulation moderated the association between chronic family stress and physiological measures. As chronic family stress increased, adolescents higher in cognitive reappraisal had smaller waist-hip ratios (B = -.003, SE = .001, p = .015) and lower systolic blood pressure (B = -.303, SE = .143, p = .035), although no moderation was found with respect to inflammatory markers and glucocorticoid sensitivity (all p's > .30). In addition, as chronic family stress increased, adolescents higher in suppression showed evidence of higher stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production (B = .046, SE = .020, p = .021) and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity (B = .051, SE = .021, p = .015), although basal inflammation and metabolic measures were not moderated by suppression (all p's > .50).

Conclusions: This study suggests that the types of emotion regulation strategies used by adolescents may affect the extent to which chronic family stress affects important metabolic and immune processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological / physiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior / physiology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Emotions
  • Family Relations*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation* / immunology
  • Inflammation* / metabolism
  • Inflammation* / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Self-Control*
  • Stress, Psychological* / immunology
  • Stress, Psychological* / metabolism
  • Stress, Psychological* / physiopathology

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