Understanding the effects of emotional reactivity on depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors: Moderating effects of childhood adversity and resilience
Abstract
Background Early adulthood is a period of increased risk for depression and suicide. Emotional reactivity (a tendency to react to stress with increases in negative affect and maladaptive interpretations of events) is an important risk factor for these outcomes that has been under-studied. We hypothesized that elevated emotional reactivity would be associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Further, we hypothesized that experiences of childhood maltreatment would amplify this relationship, whereas the presence of resilience would act as a buffer. Methods 1703 young adults (Mean Age = 19.56 years), 71% female) completed well-validated self-report questionnaires at a single time point. Results Higher emotional reactivity was directly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Further, resilience levels significantly moderated the relationships between emotional reactivity and depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Finally, childhood trauma significantly moderated the relationship between emotional reactivity and suicidal thoughts and behaviors only. Limitations This study was cross-sectional in design and relied upon self-report measures only. Conclusions The current study demonstrates an association between emotional reactivity, depressive symptoms, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors during emerging adulthood. Whereas a history of childhood maltreatment may amplify t…
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Resilience is negatively correlated with anxiety and depression, suggesting it may protect against these conditions by buffering risk factors.
“Research shows resilience is negatively correlated with anxiety and depression,, suggesting it may protect against these conditions by buffering risk factors [37–43].”
From The prospective association of adolescent loneliness and low resilience with anxiety and depression in young adulthood: The HUNT study (2025) · cites this paper as [41]
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- Authors
- Shapero, B. G., Farabaugh, A., Terechina, O., DeCross, S., Cheung, J. C., Fava, M., & Holt, D. J.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Corresponding author
- Shapero, Benjamin G.
- Venue
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 245
- Pages
- 419-427
- ISSN
- 0165-0327 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2899732873
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 11.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Affective Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- MGH
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- emotional reactivity, depression, suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, childhood adversity, child abuse, resilience, moderating effect, emerging adulthood, early adulthood, negative affect, stress reactivity
- MeSH terms
- Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Emotions, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Resilience, Psychological, Young Adult, Self Report, Suicidal Ideation
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