The interplay between expressive suppression, emotional self-efficacy and internalizing behavior in middle adolescence

Abstract Background Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies are predictive of negative outcomes in adolescence which, turn, may impact on later well-being. Objective The current study aimed at testing the moderating role emotional self-efficacy relation between expressive suppression and engagement internalizing behavior, controlling for gender effect. Method A total 526 adolescents (M age = 14.7 years, range 14–17 years) filled out self-report questionnaires evaluating suppression, regulatory self-efficacy, respectively. Results Suppressors with lower positive were more likely to engage behavior than suppressors higher self-efficacy. Conclusions Despite several limitations, provided preliminary insights played by middle adolescence.