Emotion dysregulation and anxiety in children and adolescents: Gender differences

An increasing number of studies has shown that emotion dysregulation plays a key role in relation to childhood anxiety. While gender differences are commonly associated with emotional competence, no study has yet examined whether the relation between emotion dysregulation and anxiety is the same for girls as it is for boys. The present study investigated the possibility of gender differences in the relation between emotion dysregulation and anxiety in a community sample of 544 children and adolescents (298 girls and 246 boys) in the age of 9–16 years. Anxiety was assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders-Revised (SCARED-R). Emotion dysregulation was measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Four results emerged from this study. In accordance with previous research, (1) girls experience more anxiety and greater difficulties regulating their negative emotions than boys, and (2) emotion dysregulation has a significant impact on anxiety. Not previously shown, (3) emotion dysregulation is more predictive of anxiety in girls than in boys, and (4) different types of emotion regulation difficulties account for anxiety in girls and boys. Participants’ age did not have an impact on anxiety scores. Findings are discussed with respect to clinical implications and future directions.

► We investigate gender differences in anxiety and emotion dysregulation in youths.
► Girls report higher levels of anxiety and emotion dysregulation than boys.
► Emotion dysregulation significantly predicts anxiety in girls and boys.
► Emotion dysregulation better predictor of anxiety in girls than in boys.
► Different aspects of emotion dysregulation account for anxiety in boys and girls.