Emotional dysregulation and its relationship to peer victimization and aggression among neurodiverse youth
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Erin Kang
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
25-4-2025 11:29 AM
Description
Emotion dysregulation (ED) involves difficulty modulating emotions, including both mood-based (dysphoria) and behavioral (reactivity) responses to environmental triggers (Mazefsky et al., 2021). Relational aggression/victimization involves behaviors aimed at harming one’s social relationships, and overt aggression/victimization involves direct acts of physical and verbal victimization (Doyle & Sullivan, 2017). While prior research links peer aggression and victimization to elevated ED (McLaughlin et al., 2009), whether ED predicts peer victimization and aggression remains underexplored, particularly for neurodivergent youth who are at risk for negative peer experiences. Twenty neurodiverse youth (Mage=12.95, SDage=1.76, 45% male; 70% White, 15% Asian/SouthAsian/MENA, 5% Multiracial; 9 Autistic) completed measures of peer victimization and aggression (Revised Peer Experiences Questionnaire; Prinstein et al., 2001). Their parents completed measures of ED (Emotion Dysregulation Index; Mazefsky et al., 2021). Overt and relational aspects of peer victimization and aggression showed specific associations with ED: Relational victimization was associated with both ED reactivity (r=.532, p<.05) and dysphoria (r=.535, p<.05), while overt victimization was not correlated with ED. Conversely, overt aggression was significantly correlated with both ED reactivity (r=.556, p<.05) and dysphoria (r=.488, p<.05), whereas relational aggression was not correlated with ED. Findings suggest that individual emotional vulnerabilities (i.e., difficulties in regulating emotions) may play an important role in peer experiences, particularly in relational victimization and overt aggression. Future research can continue to explore the effects of both ED dysphoria and reactivity on peers’ experiences, which in turn can aid in identifying effective intervention strategies for youth (Memba et al., 2023).
Emotional dysregulation and its relationship to peer victimization and aggression among neurodiverse youth
Emotion dysregulation (ED) involves difficulty modulating emotions, including both mood-based (dysphoria) and behavioral (reactivity) responses to environmental triggers (Mazefsky et al., 2021). Relational aggression/victimization involves behaviors aimed at harming one’s social relationships, and overt aggression/victimization involves direct acts of physical and verbal victimization (Doyle & Sullivan, 2017). While prior research links peer aggression and victimization to elevated ED (McLaughlin et al., 2009), whether ED predicts peer victimization and aggression remains underexplored, particularly for neurodivergent youth who are at risk for negative peer experiences. Twenty neurodiverse youth (Mage=12.95, SDage=1.76, 45% male; 70% White, 15% Asian/SouthAsian/MENA, 5% Multiracial; 9 Autistic) completed measures of peer victimization and aggression (Revised Peer Experiences Questionnaire; Prinstein et al., 2001). Their parents completed measures of ED (Emotion Dysregulation Index; Mazefsky et al., 2021). Overt and relational aspects of peer victimization and aggression showed specific associations with ED: Relational victimization was associated with both ED reactivity (r=.532, p<.05) and dysphoria (r=.535, p<.05), while overt victimization was not correlated with ED. Conversely, overt aggression was significantly correlated with both ED reactivity (r=.556, p<.05) and dysphoria (r=.488, p<.05), whereas relational aggression was not correlated with ED. Findings suggest that individual emotional vulnerabilities (i.e., difficulties in regulating emotions) may play an important role in peer experiences, particularly in relational victimization and overt aggression. Future research can continue to explore the effects of both ED dysphoria and reactivity on peers’ experiences, which in turn can aid in identifying effective intervention strategies for youth (Memba et al., 2023).
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.