I take a deep breath first”: adolescent self-regulation and co-regulation in contexts of urban poverty in Bogotá, Colombia

Previous research shows that poverty can hinder the development of self-regulation skills, yet little is known about how individuals living in poverty experience self-regulation. This qualitative study aims to understand young people’s experiences as they deploy self-regulation strategies and navigate interpersonal and contextual barriers associated with chronic scarcity. Adolescents (n=29) aged 10-19 years living in low-income urban areas in Bogotá, Colombia, participated in semi-structured interviews and provided journal entries. Data were analyzed using framework analysis. Findings reveal that adolescents self-regulate using avoidance, reflection, physiologically mediated strategies, and self-care practices. They regulate themselves to solve interpersonal conflict and achieve personal and family-oriented goals. Co-regulation practices primarily involving peers were identified. Despite having a rich repertoire of self-regulation strategies, participants described that dysregulated responses by significant others and the lack of material resources interfere with their effective use of self-regulation strategies. Our findings can inform interventions operating in contexts of adversity that seek to improve self-regulation during adolescence, a critical age for preventing mental health conditions and adverse developmental outcomes.