AUTHOR=Mestre José M. , Núñez-Lozano Juan M. , Gómez-Molinero Rocío , Zayas Antonio , Guil Rocío 

TITLE=Emotion Regulation Ability and Resilience in a Sample of Adolescents from a Suburban Area

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01980

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01980

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p>Earlier research has identified a remarkable number of related factors to resilience during adolescence. Historically, theoretical treatments of resilience have been focused almost exclusively on psychosocial levels of analysis to derive explanatory models. However, there is insufficient understanding of the role of emotion regulation explaining competent functioning despite the experience of adversity (resilience), especially during adolescence. This study explores the relationship between both, emotional regulation abilities and strategies, and resilience in a sample of adolescents from suburbs high-schools (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain). The study also examines how using different emotional regulation strategies may help the development of resilience levels at this stage. Participants of the study were 164 adolescents ranging from 13 to 16 years old (<italic>M</italic> = 13.98<italic>; SD</italic> = 0.66). Emotion regulation was measured using the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ, Garnefski et al., <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B37">2001</xref>), and sections D and H of Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, a performance test (Emotion Regulation Ability sections, MSCEIT, Spanish version, Mayer et al., <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B74">2003</xref>). Resilience was evaluated with ERE (Educative Resilience Scale for children and adolescents, Saavedra and Castro, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B92">2009</xref>). Verbal Intelligence (Yuste, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B113">1997</xref>) and personality traits (Cattell and Cattell, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B17">1986</xref>) were assessed as two independent variables. Results supported the idea that emotion regulation ability (MSCEIT, D and H sections, Extremera et al., <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B28">2006</xref>) is a significant predictor of adolescents' resilience. Moreover, cognitive regulation strategies, such as positive reappraisal, predicted perceived resilience among students. Sociability (A factor of HSPQ, sociability) also correlated with resilience levels. Hence, these results are promising, implying that emotion regulation ability may act as a helpful tool preventing adolescents from irrational risky behaviors, commonly assumed at this developmental stage.</p>