(PS11-C72) Resilience and Emotion Regulation as Predictors of Internalizing Problems in Autistic Youth

Sunday, November 20, 2022

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST

Location: Westside Ballroom, 5th Floor

Author(s)

AS

Ashley Sexton, B.S.

Graduate Student
Catholic University of America
Chillum, Maryland

Co-Author(s)

KG

Kathryn B. Guajardo, PhD

Psychological Science M.A. student
The Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia
BR

Brendan Rich, Ph.D.

Chair and Associate Professor
Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia
Mary K. Alvord, Ph.D.

Psychologist/Director
Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC
Rockville, Maryland

Studies have shown higher rates of internalizing symptoms in autistic children than neurotypical children (Kim et al., 2000; Lopata et al., 2010). Internalizing symptoms typically present as someone being depressed and/or anxious (Watson et al., 2013). Additionally, research indicates that autistic children are at high risk for co-occurring anxiety and depressive symptoms (Ung et al., 2013; Wijnhoven et al., 2018). Furthermore, research suggests that emotional dysregulation (i.e., difficulty controlling one’s emotional response) is predictive of increases in internalizing problems in boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (Bos et al., 2018). Therefore, understanding the predictor(s) of internalizing problems is especially important for autistic youth. A subsample of children (n = 17, M = 9.94, SD = 1.98, 88.2% male, 94.1% white) enrolled in the Resilience Builder Program® (RBP; Alvord & Grados, 2011) group therapy program who were identified by their parent as having a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder comprised the sample of this study. RBP is a 12-week manualized group intervention designed to improve resilience-based skills in youth with difficulties in social competence and self-regulation. Parents completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd Edition (BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 2004), pre- and post-therapy to evaluate treatment impact on social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Pre-therapy scores were subtracted from post-therapy scores to create a change score for the following measures of the BASC-2: Internalizing Problems, Emotion Self Control, Resiliency. A multiple regression was conducted to assess whether change in resilience and emotion self control predicted change in internalizing problems. The overall regression model, including change in emotion self control and change in resilience, significantly predicted change in internalizing problems, R² = .53, F(2, 14) = 6.81, p = .011. However, controlling for change in emotion self control, change in resilience alone was not significantly related to change in internalizing problems, β = -.08, t(14) = -.20, p = .847. Additionally, controlling for change in resilience, change in emotion self control alone was not significantly related to change in internalizing problems, β = .66, t(14) = 1.68, p = .120. Our results suggest that, following participation in the RBP group therapy treatment, both improved resilience and emotion regulation collectively led to reduced internalizing problems. These results corroborate and add to the current literature regarding stronger emotion regulation as a protective factor for mental health outcomes in autistic youth (Bos et al., 2018; Pepperdine, 2018). Furthermore, the results emphasize the importance of improving both resilience and emotion regulation in autistic youth to prevent or improve internalizing problems. Future research should focus on the development and improvement of interventions targeting internalizing problems which enhance resilience and healthy emotion regulation in autistic youth.