The role of specific emotion dysregulation facets in the association between child violence exposure and psychopathology

• Authors: Dominique L. La Barrie, University of Georgia; Miriam Zegarac, University of Georgia; Yara Mekawi, Emory University; Eva Kuzyk, Emory University; Anais Stenson, Wayne State University; Tanja Jovanovic, Wayne State University; Bekh Bradley-Davino, Emory University; Abigail Powers, Emory University
• Journal Title: Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy
• Publisher: American Psychological Association | 2022-05-26
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001265
• Subjects: Psychology, Developmental
• Keywords: community violence; emotion regulation; internalizing; externalizing; childhood trauma; emotion dysregulation

Abstract

Objective: African Americans living in low-income urban environments are disproportionately exposed to violence compared to other racial groups. Child exposure to community violence is linked to adverse psychological outcomes, including externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Emotion dysregulation may be one psychological process through which externalizing and internalizing behaviors develop in the context of childhood violence exposure. However, limited research exists on how different aspects of emotion dysregulation are affected by community violence exposure in children. Method: The present study examined whether violence exposure was indirectly associated with externalizing and internalizing behaviors via facets of emotion dysregulation in a sample of 94 African American mother-child dyads. Mothers and children completed measures to assess child community violence exposure, externalizing and internalizing behaviors, and emotion dysregulation (anger, sadness, and worry dysregulation). Results: Results indicated that maternal report of child community violence exposure was indirectly associated with externalizing behaviors via anger dysregulation and internalizing behaviors via worry dysregulation. Child report of community violence exposure was also indirectly associated with externalizing behavior via anger dysregulation, however there were no significant associations associated with internalizing behavior. Conclusions: These findings suggest that certain components of emotion dysregulation serve as an indirect pathway of influence for community violence exposure on child behavior, and the pathways differ between externalizing and internalizing behavior outcomes. Emotion dysregulation may serve as an important potential treatment target in reducing long-term risks associated with violence exposure in urban communities of color.