Automatic Emotional Responses as a Transdiagnostic Risk and Emotional Control as a Protective Factor for Adolescent Psychopathology: A Network Analysis

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by heightened risk for emotion-related impulsivity (ERI), challenges in emotion regulation (ER), and mental health difficulties. Dual-process models propose that individuals respond to emotions either automatically (reflexively) or deliberately (reflectively), with implications for mental health. We applied network analysis using a Gaussian Graphical Model to examine associations between automatic and deliberate emotional responses and symptoms of internalizing, externalizing, and thought problems in adolescents (N = 918; Mage = 13.97, SD = 0.93; 54.60% female). Automatic ER and ERI nodes exhibited the strongest connections with symptom nodes across internalizing, externalizing and thought problems. The strongest association linked limited access to ER strategies with feeling down and depressed. Deliberate ER nodes were also interconnected with symptoms, the strongest association showing more emotional control being linked to less feeling bad or not liking oneself. Several nodes demonstrated high strength and bridge centrality. Findings suggest that responding automatically may reflect a transdiagnostic risk factor and emotional control may serve as a protective factor. Future studies are needed to determine causality; however, our findings point to various aspects of emotional responses for mental health difficulties in adolescence that may be particularly useful targets in intervention and prevention efforts.