Family functioning, emotion regulation and stress during COVID-19 lockdown among Mexican adolescents

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 lockdown has brought multiple changes in the lives of adolescents. In this context, the objective of the present research was to examine the role of emotion regulation, including five adaptive strategies (mindfulness, reappraisal, acceptance, problem solving, and distraction) as parallel mediators of the effects of family functioning on stress among Mexican teenagers. A total of 788 adolescents participated in this study. Results confirmed the parallel mediation model showing that family functioning can reduce stress experienced by adolescents by positively influencing the strategies of mindfulness, reappraisal, problem solving, and distraction. In conclusion, it was possible to confirm for the first time the effects that family functioning has on stress of Mexican adolescents via emotion regulation strategies.