How is impulsivity related to depression in adolescence? Evidence from a French validation of the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire

J Adolesc. 2007 Apr;30(2):271-82. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.02.007. Epub 2006 Apr 4.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate a French version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven, P., 2001. Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and emotional problems. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1311-1327) and to explore its relationships with impulsivity and depression. Teenagers from a junior secondary (n=107, 13-16 years) and a secondary school (n=110, 15-19 years) completed the CERQ, which assesses regulation strategies in response to negative events. The secondary school adolescents also completed the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (Whiteside, S. P., & Lynam, D. R., 2001. The five factor model and impulsivity: Using a structural model of personality to understand impulsivity. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 669-689) and the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (Reynolds, W. M., 1987. Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale: Professional manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources). Factor analysis for the CERQ confirmed the presence of the nine original regulation strategies. In the secondary school students, impulsivity was related to depression. A path analysis revealed that regulation strategies mediated this relationship. The role of emotion regulation in the development of adolescent psychopathology is discussed.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Depression / etiology*
  • Emotions*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Male
  • Surveys and Questionnaires