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Parent Emotion Regulation, Mindful Parenting, and Youth Attachment: Direct and Indirect Associations with Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

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Abstract

The direct associations between two dimensions of parent emotion regulation within the parent-youth relationship (dysregulation; suppression), mindful parenting, and youth internalizing and externalizing problems were examined among 759 parents of youth with significant behavioural or emotional problems. The indirect associations of parent emotion regulation and mindful parenting with youth functioning through youth attachment anxiety and avoidance were also investigated. Parent dysregulation was associated with internalizing symptoms both directly and through attachment anxiety, and with externalizing symptoms directly and through attachment anxiety and avoidance. Parent suppression was associated with internalizing symptoms through attachment anxiety, and with externalizing symptoms through attachment anxiety and avoidance. Mindful parenting was associated with lower internalizing symptoms through attachment anxiety and with lower externalizing symptoms through attachment anxiety and avoidance. Emotion regulation within parent-child relationships and mindful parenting may be critical components of parenting programs aimed at promoting youth attachment security and mental health.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR; Team Grant 251560). Dr. Marlene Moretti is Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Youth Clinical Psychological Science. Julia Vernon is funded by a CIHR Doctoral Research Award.

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  1. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada

    Julia R. G. Vernon & Marlene M. Moretti

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Correspondence to Marlene M. Moretti.

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Vernon, J.R.G., Moretti, M.M. Parent Emotion Regulation, Mindful Parenting, and Youth Attachment: Direct and Indirect Associations with Internalizing and Externalizing Problems. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01446-0

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