Emotion Regulation and Self-Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Emotional Stability and Extraversion in Adolescence.

The feeling of emotional self-efficacy helps people understand how to handle positive and negative emotions. Emotion regulation is the process that helps people control their emotions so that they can adapt to the demands of the environment. This study has a twofold aim. First, it examines the relationships among emotion regulation, the personality traits of extraversion and emotional stability, and the feeling of emotional self-efficacy for positive and negative emotions in an adolescent population. Second, it examines the mediating role of personality traits (extraversion and emotional stability) in the relationship between emotion regulation and emotional self-efficacy for positive and negative emotions. The participants were 703 adolescents (49.9% male and 50.1% female) aged between 15 and 18 years (M = 15.86, SD = 0.30). Significant relationships were observed among emotion regulation, the personality traits of extraversion and emotional stability, and emotional self-efficacy for positive and negative emotions. The structural equation model confirmed the direct link between emotion regulation and emotional self-efficacy and mediation by the personality traits of extraversion and emotional stability. This study confirms that emotional self-efficacy is connected to the emotion regulation strategies that adolescents use. Effective emotion regulation encourages self-perception and emotional coping. The results are discussed in connection to previous research.

Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 in the Ecuadorian and Spanish Populations: A Cross-Cultural Study.

The world's population is currently overcoming one of the worst pandemics, and the psychological and social effects of this are becoming more apparent. We will present an analysis of the psychosocial effects of COVID-19: first, a cross-sectional study in an Ecuadorian sample (n = 301) and second, a comparative study between two samples from the Ecuadorian and Spanish populations (n = 83 each one). Participants completed an online survey to (1) describe how they felt (depression, anxiety, and stress) before and after confinement; (2) analyze which emotional and behavioral variables predict depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress perceived after the confinement; (3) carry out a comparative study in a sample of Ecuadorian and Spanish surveys. Results indicate, first, that Ecuadorians experience significantly more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress after confinement. Second, variables which predict depressive symptoms and anxiety are greater public prosocial tendency, less stress as a challenge, and greater stress as a threat, as well as an empathetic tendency that implies greater emotional regulation. Experienced stress after confinement was predicted by a greater public prosocial tendency, as well as an empathetic tendency. Finally, scores for depression, anxiety, and stress are higher after confinement in both countries. However, results reveal the similarity of the psychosocial effects that are being experienced, regardless of the country, and the differences in the variables that can help explain these effects. This can contribute to the constitution of intervention plans which aim to soften and alleviate the effects produced by a situation such as that experienced with COVID-19.

Traditional Masculinity and Aggression in Adolescence: Its Relationship with Emotional Processes.

Traditional masculinity includes norms that encourage many of the aggressive behaviors whereas traditional femininity emphasizes aggression very little. In addition, the lack of emotional regulation as well as a poor impulse control have been related to aggression and, in particular, with reactive and proactive aggression. The objective of this study is to examine the role of gender stereotypes (masculinity/femininity) in reactive and proactive aggression, through regulatory emotional self-efficacy and emotion regulation. A total of 390 adolescents participated in a longitudinal study in Valencia, Spain. Structural equations modeling (SEM) was employed to explore a two-wave longitudinal model. The results show that femininity relates to reactive aggression through regulatory emotional self-efficacy and emotion regulation. This way, both emotional self-efficacy and emotional regulation mediate the relation between femininity and reactive aggression. Furthermore, reactive and proactive aggression relate positively and directly to masculinity and negatively to femininity. Therefore, violence prevention programs with adolescents should incorporate information to break down gender stereotypes and promote strategies to manage emotions. Such efforts may be helpful to reduce aggressive behaviors and violence.

Victimization and Peer and Parents Attachment: The Mediating Effect of Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy.

Studies of the Spanish adolescent population has concluded that victimization is related to lack of emotional regulation and impulse control. Therefore, if a victim is unable to recognize, understand and regulate their emotions, this can result in rejection by their peers. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine regulatory emotional self-efficacy as a possible mediator in the association between peer and parents attachment and victimization. Adolescents (n = 563) completed Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy, Inventory of Parents and Peer Attachment and Kid at School questionnaires. Structural equation models (SEMs) were used to predict a latent variable of victimization with parents and peer attachment, emphasizing the mediating role of regulatory emotional self-efficacy, as comprised by a positive and a negative aspect. Results showed that peer attachment had an indirect negative effect, through perceived self-efficacy, in managing a positive effect in victimization, while father attachment had an indirect negative affect, through perceived self-efficacy, in managing a negative affect in victimization, and Mother attachment had no statistically significant indirect effect in victimization. This study suggests that the roles of parents and peers, and also between mothers and fathers, are different in relation to the perception of victimization of adolescents. Findings provide relevant information regarding implications for prevention and intervention in victimization.

Substance use in early and middle adolescence. The role of academic efficacy and parenting / El consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en la adolescencia temprana y media. El papel de la eficacia académica y de la crianza

This study examines (i) the relationships between substance use and parenting style and between substance use and perceived academic self-efficacy in early and middle adolescence, (ii) the importance of these factors in predicting adolescent substance use, and (iii) the role of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between parenting styles and adolescent substance use. The sample comprised 762 adolescents (53% boys) aged 12 to 16 years (M = 13.66, SD = 1.34). The sample was selected using probabilistic cluster sampling according to type of school (secondary, public vs. semi-private) and school location in different areas of the city of Valencia (Spain). This approach accounted for different social strata of families. The results show that substance use and parents' neglect are greater in middle adolescence than in early adolescence. Support and family communication and perceived academic self-efficacy are lower. Substance use is positively related to parents' neglect, psychological control, and rejection. The relationships between neglect and psychological control and substance use are moderated by academic self-efficacy, and the relationship between psychological control and substance use is mediated by academic self-efficacy

Los objetivos de esta investigación son analizar la relación del consumo de sustancias con el estilo de crianza de los padres y la percepción de eficacia académica por parte de los adolescentes, estudiar la diferente contribución de estos factores a la predicción del consumo de sustancias en la adolescencia y observar la función de la autoeficacia académica en la relación entre el estilo de crianza y el consumo de sustancias en la adolescencia. Participaron 762 adolescentes (53% hombres), de edades comprendidas entre los 12 y los 16 años (M = 13.66, DT = 1.34). La muestra se seleccionó con criterios probabilísticos por conglomerados, atendiendo al tipo de centro (educación secundaria, público frente a privado/concertado) y ubicación en diferentes zonas de la ciudad de Valencia, para atender distintos estratos sociales familiares. Los resultados indican que en comparación con la adolescencia temprana, en la adolescencia media aumenta el consumo de sustancias y la negligencia de los padres, además de disminuir el apoyo y la comunicación familiar junto con la eficacia académica percibida. El consumo de sustancias está relacionado positivamente con la negligencia, el control psicológico y el rechazo por parte de los padres. La negligencia y el control psicológico actúan como variables moderadoras, pero solo el control psicológico actúa como variable mediadora entre la eficacia académica y el consumo de sustancias

Victimización en la escuela: relación de la crianza y variables funcionales-disfuncionales del desarrollo / Victimization at school: relationship of parenting and functional dysfunctional developmental variables

El presente estudio tiene como principal objetivo analizar el papel diferencial de la crianza (apoyo y comunicación versus control), de variables funcionales del desarrollo (empatía y mecanismos de afrontamiento funcionales) y las variables disfuncionales (inestabilidad emocional y afrontamiento improductivo) en la victimización ocurrida en el entorno escolar, o por el contrario, con el apego entre pares. Participaron en el estudio 418 alumnos, 224 chicas y 194 chicos adolescentes, entre 13 y 14 años, escolarizados en los niveles de 3º y 4º curso de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria. Para analizar estas relaciones se llevó a cabo un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales EQS. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los estilos de crianza de apoyo y comunicación versus control negativo están directamente relacionados con las variables funcionales y disfuncionales del desarrollo. El control negativo aparece relacionado con la victimización. A su vez, las variables funcionales están directamente relacionadas tanto con la victimización como con el apego, mientras que las variables disfuncionales solo alcanzan una correlación significativa con la victimización. Finalmente se discuten los resultados y sus posibles implicaciones

This study has the aim to analyze the different role of parental styles (affect and communication versus control), of functional developmental variables (empathy and adaptative coping styles) and dysfunctional variables (emotional instability and inefficient coping styles) in school victimization, or conversely with peer attachment. Participants were 418 Spanish adolescents, 224 girls and 194 boys, aged between 13 - 14 years old and attending year 7 and year 8 of secondary school. Structural equation modeling was carried out using the EQS program. Results shows that parenting styles of affect and communication versus negative control are both directly related to functional and dysfunctional developmental variables. Negative control is also directly related to the school victimization. Also, functional variables are directly related to the school victimization and peer attachment, while dysfunctional variables only are related to school victimization. Finally, results and their possible implications are discussed

La medida de la empatía: análisis del Interpersonal Reactivity Index / Measuring empathy: the Interpersonal Reactivity Index

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas del Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) (Davis, 1980, 1983) en su adaptación española. Se trata de uno de los cuestionarios más utilizados para evaluar la empatía desde una perspectiva multidimensional que incluye dos factores cognitivos y dos emocionales. La adaptación española se ha realizado con una amplia muestra de sujetos pertenecientes a diferentes centros educativos de la Comunidad Valenciana (1.285 adolescentes, 698 varones y 597 mujeres, con un rango de edad entre 13 y 18 años). Los resultados obtenidos indican la validez del instrumento para evaluar los diferentes componentes de la empatía (AU)

The main aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) (Davis, 1980, 1983) in its Spanish adaptation. It is one of the questionnaires but used to evaluate the empathy from a multidimensional perspective that includes two cognitive factors and two emotional. The Spanish adaptation has been carried out with a wide sample of fellows belonging to different educational centers of the Valencian Community (1.285 adolescents, 698 males and 597 women, with an age range between 13 and 18 years). The results of this study indicate the validity of the instrument to evaluate the different components of the empathy (AU)