The Temporal Influence of Emotion Regulation on the Association between Impulsivity and Internalizing Psychopathology: a Latent Path Model

Impulsivity has been found to predict the use of emotion regulation strategies as well as internalizing psychopathology. The present study aims to determine whether the timing of regulatory strategies used by those higher in impulsivity differentially impacts symptoms of internalizing psychopathology.A community sample (Nf783) recruited from Amazon MTurk completed an online survey. Latent factors were created for impulsivity, antecedent-focused and response-focused regulation, and internalizing psychopathology. A parallel latent path model was tested using robust maximum likelihood estimation in MPlus in which impulsivity was associated with internalizing psychopathology through antecedent and response-focused regulation.All adjusted measurement model fit indices were within standard cut-off limits (RMSEA = 0.000-0.069, CFI = 0.981-1.000, SRMR = 0.005-0.016). Impulsivity, β = 0.90, p < 0.001, and response-focused, β = 0.40, p < 0.001, but not antecedent-focused regulation, β = 0.03, p = 0.484, predicted internalizing psychopathology. Impulsivity was related to both antecedent-focused, β = 0.70, p < 0.001, and response-focused regulation, β = 0.84, p < 0.001. There was a specific indirect effect of impulsivity on internalizing psychopathology through response-focused, β = 0.34, p < 0.001, but not antecedent-focused regulation, β = 0.02, p = 0.483. The direct effect of impulsivity, β = 0.54, p < 0.001, remained after accounting for the total indirect effects, β = 0.36, p < 0.001.These findings indicate that the association between impulsivity and internalizing psychopathology can be partially explained by emotion regulation. Impulsivity related positively to both types of emotion regulation, suggesting that those high in impulsivity have the capacity for both types of strategies. Only response-focused strategies were associated with internalizing symptoms; thus, it may then be beneficial to prompt those with high impulsivity to use more antecedent-focused rather than response-focused regulatory strategies.