From Little Kids, Big Kids Grow: The Development of Emotion Regulation Abilities from Childhood to Adolescence

Abstract Less effective emotion regulation abilities during childhood represent a significant factor of risk for healthy child development. However, despite much research into less skilled emotion regulation abilities, findings about the outcomes of emotion regulation ability trajectories in adolescence are inconsistent. This may reflect methodological challenges in undertaking prospective longitudinal research, or a lack of clarity about factors that influence developmental outcomes. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prospective relation between early childhood (ages 3–6) emotion regulation abilities and adolescent outcomes (ages 13–16). Peer reviewed prospective longitudinal research studies published in English since 2015 were included in the review if they examined emotion regulation abilities in early childhood; assessed subsequent outcomes in adolescence; and examined risk, protective, or promotive factors associated with emotion trajectories. Statistical analyses utilized random effects models and reported pooled effect sizes within groups. Of 27,490 records identified, 16 studies were included in the systematic review, and 10 in the meta-analysis. Early emotion regulation abilities that were less adaptive predicted subsequent less adaptive regulation, psychiatric difficulties, academic concerns, and social challenges in adolescence. Risk and promotive factors for early childhood emotion regulation abilities included pregnancy-related factors, parental mental health, socioeconomic status, child characteristics, cognitive and behavioral traits, and family dynamics. This highlighted the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. There was conflicting evidence about sex, suicidality, and externalizing behaviors, and quantitative analyses revealed high heterogeneity among the studies. The findings offer insights about the identification of youth at risk, and the development of targeted clinical interventions to enhance adolescent developmental outcomes.