Cited by 1,555Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesResilience and Mental Health

Coping, emotion regulation, and psychopathology in childhood and adolescence: A meta-analysis and narrative review.

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Compas, Bruce E., Jaser, Sarah S., Bettis, Alexandra H., Watson, Kelly H., Gruhn, Meredith A., Dunbar, Jennifer P., Williams, Ellen, Thigpen, Jennifer C.·2017·Psychological Bulletin

Abstract

In this meta-analytic and narrative review, we examine several overarching issues related to the study of coping, emotion regulation, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms of psychopathology in childhood and adolescence, including the conceptualization and measurement of these constructs. We report a quantitative meta-analysis of 212 studies (N = 80,850 participants) that measured the associations between coping and emotion regulation with symptoms of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Within the meta-analysis we address the association of broad domains of coping and emotion regulation (e.g., total coping, emotion regulation), intermediate factors of coping and emotion regulation (e.g., primary control coping, secondary control coping), and specific coping and emotion regulation strategies (e.g., emotional expression, cognitive reappraisal) with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. For cross-sectional studies, which made up the majority of studies included, we examine 3 potential moderators: age, measure quality, and single versus multiple informants. Finally, we separately consider findings from longitudinal studies as these provide stronger tests of the effects. After accounting for publication bias, findings indicate that the broad domain of emotion regulation and adaptive coping and the factors of primary control coping and secondary control coping are related to lower levels of symptoms of psychopathology. Further, the domain of maladaptive coping, the factor of disengagement coping, and the strategies of emotional suppression, avoidance, and denial are related to higher levels of symptoms of psychopathology. Finally, we offer a critique of the current state of the field and outline an agenda for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record

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  • Maladaptive strategy use is associated with lower self-efficacy and higher depression and anxiety symptoms.

    “Significant links are noted between maladaptive strategy use, reduced self-efficacy and increased depression and anxiety symptoms (Carthy et al., 2010; Compas et al., 2017; Ehring et al., 2010).”

    From Outcomes From an Online Pilot Mindfulness Based Intervention with Adolescents: A Comparison by Categories of Risk. (2023) · cites this paper as Compas et al., 2017

    The Results (Cross-Sectional Effect Sizes; page unavailable) report that maladaptive coping was significantly associated with higher internalizing symptoms. The Previous Reviews section also reports positive associations between strategies considered maladaptive and depression and anxiety symptoms. Neither passage establishes a link between maladaptive strategy use and reduced self-efficacy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • People who use a greater variety of adaptive coping strategies report less anxiety and depression and greater psychological functioning and self-efficacy.

    “Preliminary evidence suggests those who employ a greater variety of adaptive coping strategies report reduced anxiety and depression, and increased psychological functioning and self-efficacy (Compas et al., 2017; Suhr et al., 2017).”

    From Outcomes From an Online Pilot Mindfulness Based Intervention with Adolescents: A Comparison by Categories of Risk. (2023) · cites this paper as Compas et al., 2017

    The Discussion’s Meta-analytic Findings section says secondary control coping, which combines several strategies, was associated with fewer symptoms; its Comparison with Previous Reviews section also reports links between adaptive strategies and lower anxiety and depression. But the paper does not establish that using a greater *variety* of strategies predicts those outcomes, and the passages do not support the claimed increase in self-efficacy. Its own meta-analysis concerns children and adolescents, not people generally. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • In a meta-analysis of 212 studies (80,850 participants), avoidant coping strategies such as disengagement, emotional suppression, and denial were associated with concurrent and subsequent psychopathology.

    “As confirmed in a recent meta-analysis of 212 studies (80,850 participants), avoidant coping strategies such as disengagement, emotional suppression, and denial were associated with concurrent and subsequent psychopathology (Compas et al. 2017).”

    From Child Sexual Abuse as a Unique Risk Factor for the Development of Psychopathology: The Compounded Convergence of Mechanisms (2021) · cites this paper as Compas et al. 2017

    The Results report 212 studies and 80,850 participants, and the cross-sectional results link disengagement coping, emotional suppression, and denial to higher symptoms. But the Longitudinal Effect Sizes results and Discussion report longitudinal associations for disengagement coping and avoidance, not for emotional suppression or denial; only 17 studies contributed longitudinal data. The claim overextends the longitudinal finding to all three named examples (page numbers unavailable in our copy). (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Emotion regulation is a well-established factor linked to behavioral health and mental health, including substance use and mood and anxiety disorders.

    “Emotion regulation is a well-established factor that is linked to behavioral health and mental health, including substance use and mood and anxiety disorders [24].”
  • Suppression is positively associated with psychopathology.

    “suppression and rumination have been positively associated (Aldao, Nolen-Hoeksema, & Schweizer, 2010; Compas et al., 2017; Hu et al., 2014; Prefit, Candea, & Szentagotai-Tatar, 2019; Seligowski, Lee, Bardeen, & Orcutt, 2015), and reappraisal has been negatively associated (Aldao et al., 2010; Hu et al., 2014; Prefit et al., 2019; but see Seligowski et al., 2015) with psychopathology.”

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Cites

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7 of the 396 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 15

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  2. Compas BE, Jaser SS, & Benson MA (2009). Coping and emotion regulation: Implications for understanding depression during adolescence In Nolen-Hoeksema S & Hilt L (Eds.), Handbook of Adolescent Depression (pp. 413– 339). New York: Wiley.
  3. Compas BE, Watson KH, Reising MM, & Dunbar JP (2013). Stress and coping: Transdiagnostic processes in child and adolescent psychopathology In Ehrenrich-May J & Chu B (Eds.), Transdiagnostic mechanisms and treatment approaches of youth psychopathology (pp. 35– 58). New York, NY: Guilford.
  4. Eisenberg N, Hofer C, & Vaughan J. (2007). Effortful control and its socioemotional consequences In Gross JJ (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 287– 306). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  5. Eisenberg N, Smith CL, & Spinrad TL (2011). Effortful control: Relations with emotion regulation, adjustment and socialization in childhood In Vohs KD & Baumsister RF (eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed.), pp. 263– 283. New York, NY: Guilford 115–136. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
  6. Gould LF, Hussong AM, & Hersh MA (2012). Emotional distress may increase risk for self-medication and lower risk for mood-related drinking consequences in adolescents. The International Journal of Emotional Education, 4, 6– 24. 10.15288/jsad.2008.69.296 24358457 PMC3865427 · DOI
  7. Grant KE, McMahon SD, Duffy SN, Taylor JJ, & Compas BE (2011). Stressors and mental health problems in childhood and adolescence In Contrada RJ, & Baum A (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health; the handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 359– 372, Chapter xxii, 676 Pages) Springer Publishing Co, New York, NY.
  8. Gross JJ, & Thompson RA (2007). Emotion regulation: Conceptual foundations In Gross JJ (Ed.), Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 3– 24). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  9. Hudek-Knežević J Kardum I, & Maglica BK (2005). The sources of stress and coping styles as mediators and moderators of the relationship between personality traits and physical symptoms. Review of Psychology, 12, 91– 101. 10.1016/0191-8869(95)00182-4 · DOI
  10. Kraemer HC, Lowe KK, & Kupfer DJ (2005). To your health: How to understand what research tells us about risk. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
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  12. Li CE, DiGiuseppe R, & Froh J (2006). The roles of sex, gender, and coping in adolescent depression. Adolescence, 41, 409– 415. 10.1007/s11199-006-9076-1 17225659 · DOI
  13. Thompson RA, & Goodman M (2010). Development of emotion regulation: More than meets the eye In Kring AM & Sloan DM (Eds.), Emotion regulation and psychopathology: A transdiagnostic approach to etiology and treatment (pp. 38– 58). New York, NY: Guilford.
  14. Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, & Skinner EA (2016). The development of coping: Implications for psychopathology and resilience In Cicchetti D (Ed.), Developmental Psychopathology. Oxford, England: Wiley & Sons.
  15. Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, & Skinner EA (2011). The development of coping across childhood and adolescence: An integrative review and critique of research. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 35, 1– 17. https://doi:10.1177/0165025410384923 · DOI

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Authors
Compas, B. E., Jaser, S. S., Bettis, A. H., Watson, K. H., Gruhn, M. A., Dunbar, J. P., Williams, E., & Thigpen, J. C.
Affiliations
Vanderbilt University (US)
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Published
2017-09
Volume
143
Issue
9
Pages
939-991
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
OpenAlex
W2626086283
Cited by
1,555
References
396
Citations by year
2026: 300 · 2025: 273 · 2024: 215 · 2023: 181 · 2022: 173 · 2021: 169 · 2020: 135 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 6
FWCI
10.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01 MH100258 and T32 MH018921)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01 CA118332)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DP3 DK097678)
Topics
  • 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
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Resilience and Mental Health
Keywords
coping, emotion regulation, child psychopathology, adolescent psychopathology, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, cognitive reappraisal, emotional expression, disengagement coping, emotional suppression, avoidance, denial, maladaptive coping, adaptive coping, informant effects, age differences
MeSH terms
Self-Control, Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Mental Disorders, Child, Emotions, Humans

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