Examining the associations between interpersonal emotion regulation and psychosocial adjustment in emerging adulthood

Background Effective emotion regulation is central to emerging adults’ positive psychosocial adjustment. Research has focused largely on intrapersonal emotion regulation processes (i.e., individuals’ tendencies to regulate their emotions on their own). Consequently, there is limited understanding of interpersonal emotion regulation (IER), which emphasizes how individuals use social interactions to regulate their emotions, and its associations with adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial adjustment outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore the associations between IER strategies and psychosocial adjustment outcomes among emerging adults. Methods Emerging adults ( N = 790) completed an online questionnaire on their IER strategy use, internalizing symptoms, well-being, and relationship quality. Results Structural equation modeling results indicated that greater engagement in enhancing positive affect and perspective taking was significantly associated with lower internalizing symptoms and greater well-being. Perspective taking was also significantly associated with higher relationship quality. Greater engagement in soothing was significantly associated with higher internalizing symptoms and lower well-being. Greater engagement in social modelling was only significantly associated with higher internalizing symptoms. Conclusions The findings contribute to research by examining IER in emerging adulthood and broadening our understanding of the IER strategies that are important for psychosocial adjustment.