NCJ Number
241553
Journal
Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: September - October 2012 Pages: 367-382
Date Published
September 2012
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the role of emotion regulation strategies and emotional disposition in problem drinking of adolescent offenders and non-offending peers
Abstract
This study examined the role of emotion regulation (ER) strategies and emotional disposition in problem drinking of adolescent offenders (n = 303) and non-offending peers (n = 287) from South Korea. The participants completed a questionnaire assessing problem drinking, positive and negative emotion, emotional intensity, and use of problem solving, support seeking, and avoidant ER strategies. Problem drinking was positively associated with negative emotion, emotional intensity, and support-seeking ER in both groups, and avoidant ER among offenders only. Support-seeking ER accounted for the association between positive emotion and drinking in both groups, and avoidant ER further accounted for the association between positive emotion and drinking among offenders. Only among female offenders was the association between emotional intensity and drinking explained by support-seeking ER. The results imply that intervention to improve ER effectiveness, taking into account emotional disposition, delinquency differences, and gender, may help lessen problem drinking among adolescents. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.