Personality Traits and Emotion Regulation in Adolescence

Background: In adolescence, personality traits and emotion regulation strategies play a key role in psychosocial development. However, literature shows inconsistencies in how these variables interact and how gender may influence this relationship. Methods: The study involved 703 Spanish adolescents (49.9% boys) aged 15 to 18. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) assessed cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, while the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) measured the Big Five personality traits. Correlational analyses and path models were conducted, separated by gender. Results: Extraversion and emotional stability were positively associated with cognitive reappraisal and negatively with expressive suppression. These associations were stronger in girls, where extraversion also predicted cognitive reappraisal. Traits like agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness showed no consistent significant associations with emotion regulation strategies. Conclusions: Extraversion and emotional stability stand out as key predictors of emotion regulation during adolescence. These findings support the promotion of these traits in educational interventions to foster adaptive emotional strategies.