Emotion Regulation Difficulties Mediate the Relationship between Neuroticism and Health-Risk Behaviours in Adolescents

Abstract

Health-Risk-Behaviors (HRBs) are significant antecedent conditions of adolescents’ poor health and mortality. Prevention of avoidable adverse health outcomes requires an in-depth understanding of the factors associated with such outcomes. Among other possible pathways, the ‘Neuroticism- HRBs-adverse health’ link has been supported in previous studies. However, more extensive exploration of this link is required to identify the underlying modifiable risk factors. In the present study, one such factor, namely, emotion regulation difficulties, was explored to see its mediating effect in the relationship between neuroticism and HRBs—the first two constructs of the mentioned link. In this quantitative study, a total of 759 adolescents belonging to the Indian state of Punjab (Males= 402; M(age)=16.08) provided relevant information on a set of standardized questionnaires. Mediation analysis supported the major hypothesis of the present study. The results suggest that emotion regulation difficulty may be a significant mediator in the neuroticism-HRBs link. One’s difficulty in regulating emotions might be an underlying mechanism through which high neuroticism increases the probability of indulging in HRBs, resulting in adverse health outcomes. The study implies that the assessment of emotion regulation difficulties should be included in interventional programs aimed at achieving adolescents’ wellbeing, and early intervention may avoid progression toward adverse health outcomes in adulthood.

Keywords:

• Neuroticism
• emotion regulation difficulties
• health risk behaviors
• adolescents
• mediation

Author Notes

Parwinder Singh is Assistant Professor in Psychology at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Punjab (India), Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. His research mainly focuses on behaviour modification through emotion regulation.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Ethical Statement

The research reported in the manuscript was conducted in accordance with general ethical guidelines in psychology. Ethics clearance was provided by the Institute Ethics Committee (Human) through letter no. IEC/11/2019.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi (India) through Grant no. Adhoc/136/2019/HSR.