(PS4-D81) The Role of Emotional Dysregulation in the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Alcohol Use in Hispanic Emerging Adults

Emotion dysregulation is an established transdiagnostic factor that leads to development of psychopathology (Aldao et al., 2016). A number of previous studies have demonstrated that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a known risk factor for mental health problems and substance use (Wang et al., 2021). However, current research is  limited in understanding how emotional dysregulation can play a role as a  mediating factor which can influence alcohol abuse in the Hispanic population.   Individuals exposed to adverse experiences during childhood have greater difficulties regulating emotions . The current study aimed at understanding the underlying mechanisms between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and alcohol use problems via emotional dysregulation (ER) as a mediator in Hispanic emerging adults. Participants consisted of 267 men, 818 women, and 3 transgender emerging adults between the ages of 18 to 29 (M= 19.7, SD= 2.16) who self-identified as Hispanic. Data collection occurred through SONA, a platform used to collect data from college students at a university in South Texas. Data collection began at the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic in August 2020. Participants were asked questions pertaining to adverse childhood experiences via the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (Dube et al., 2003; Felitti et al., 1998), alcohol consumption during the past year via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT: Saunders et al., 1993), emotional dysregulation via Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16; Bjureberg et al., 2016, Gratz & Roemer 2004). This study found that about 59% of participants reported at least one form of adverse childhood experiences and nearly 30% of participants had harmful alcohol consumption. Findings suggested a mediation between adverse childhood experiences  and alcohol use via emotional dysregulation. All of the pathways in the mediation model were significant (B_range= -1.85 to .0317, p< .05). The direct relation between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol use was significant(B= -.1646, p=.0032); the indirect effect of adverse childhood experiences on alcohol use via emotional dysregulation was significant (B=-.0587, CI=-.1052 to -.0183). Findings demonstrated that individuals who had adverse childhood experiences are at an increased risk of using alcohol in adulthood due to trouble regulating emotions. Overall, the present study expands on previous findings and suggest an association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), emotional dysregulation, and alcohol use in Hispanic emerging adults during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. . Understanding how emotional dysregulation can be an influential factor in alcohol use in Hispanic emerging adults is important for developing clinical intervention programs aimed at reducing alcohol misuse in Hispanic adults. Clinical interventions should focus on emotion regulation skills in Hispanic individuals with adverse childhood experiences to help prevent and/or reduce alcohol misuse in Hispanic adults.