Perceived Parental Emotional Availability, Emotion Regulation, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adolescents

This study examines differences in perceived parental emotional availability, emotion regulation (ER), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adolescents, considering gender, age, and family structure. It also assesses contextual differences in ER (at home vs. at school) and investigates the mediating role of ER in the relationship between perceived parental emotional availability and HRQoL. The sample consisted of 202 Portuguese adolescents (M age = 13.44 years, SD = 1.01; 52.5% girls) who participated in this cross-sectional study. Self-report scales were used to assess perceived emotional availability, ER, and HRQoL, with data collected during classes using a paper-and-pencil procedure. The results showed that girls’ perceptions of mother and father emotional availability were smaller than perceptions reported by boys; girls reported lower HRQoL. Also, adolescents from divorced/separated families reported higher levels of expressive suppression at home and lower HRQoL. Both maternal and paternal perceived emotional availability were positively associated with better HRQoL in adolescents. Furthermore, expressive suppression (within the home context) and cognitive reappraisal (within the school context) partially explained these associations. These findings have important implications for both practice and research, highlighting the significance of perceived parental emotional availability and the role of ER in enhancing adolescents’ HRQoL.