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Relation between psychological flexibility, emotional intelligence and emotion regulation in adolescence

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between components of psychological flexibility and emotional regulation strategies in adolescence. In addition, to find out what emotional dysregulation factors could affect psychological flexibility. The sample was made up of 516 adolescents with an average age of 14 years. Emotional regulation was assessed with emotion intelligence and difficulties in emotion regulation. Psychological flexibility was assessed with experiential avoidance, cognitive fusion and acceptance. Results support the importance of emotion regulation and the psychological flexibility factor in adolescence. We found a clear association between problems regulating emotions and psychological inflexibility. This study point out the importance of psychological flexibility and emotion regulation of youth. In which, behaviors that in the beginning are not dysfunctional or maladaptive can become psychopathological due to psychological inflexibility. These results can be considered for their clinical and educational implications, as they confirm the importance of acceptance and flexible emotion regulation strategies.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article and its supplementary information files.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to all pupils and teachers who participated in or facilitated this research.

Funding

This research was supported by The Andalusian Public Foundation for Biomedical Research in Eastern Andalusia, Alejandro Otero-FIBAO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Education, Regional Government of Andalusia, Sol de Portocarrero High School, Almería, Spain

    Lidia Cobos-Sánchez

  2. Health Research Center, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain

    Lidia Cobos-Sánchez, Juan M. Flujas-Contreras & Inmaculada Gómez Becerra

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almeria, Spain

    Juan M. Flujas-Contreras & Inmaculada Gómez Becerra

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  1. Lidia Cobos-Sánchez
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  2. Juan M. Flujas-Contreras
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  3. Inmaculada Gómez Becerra
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Correspondence to Inmaculada Gómez Becerra.

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Ethical committee of Council of Andalusia approved the study. Informed consent was obtained from participants. All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Cobos-Sánchez, L., Flujas-Contreras, J.M. & Becerra, I.G. Relation between psychological flexibility, emotional intelligence and emotion regulation in adolescence. Curr Psychol 41, 5434–5443 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01067-7

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