Exploring the Moderating Role of Behavioral Emotion Regulation on the Association between ADHD and Depression

While depression is among the most common comorbidities with ADHD, the precise pathways that underlie this association remain unclear. Emotion regulation has been proposed as a key underlying factor, given its strong links to both ADHD and depression. Although prior research has primarily focused on cognitive and mixed emotion regulation strategies, little work has been done on the role of behavioral emotion regulation strategies. To explore the moderating role of behavioral emotion regulation strategies in comorbid ADHD and depression, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 606 participants (13% with ADHD) and performed moderation analyses. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 and behavioral emotion regulation strategies were measured with the BERQ. As expected, individuals with ADHD reported significantly higher depression scores compared to those without ADHD. Both adaptive and maladaptive behavioral emotion regulation were found to be related to depression...Show moreWhile depression is among the most common comorbidities with ADHD, the precise pathways that underlie this association remain unclear. Emotion regulation has been proposed as a key underlying factor, given its strong links to both ADHD and depression. Although prior research has primarily focused on cognitive and mixed emotion regulation strategies, little work has been done on the role of behavioral emotion regulation strategies. To explore the moderating role of behavioral emotion regulation strategies in comorbid ADHD and depression, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 606 participants (13% with ADHD) and performed moderation analyses. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 and behavioral emotion regulation strategies were measured with the BERQ. As expected, individuals with ADHD reported significantly higher depression scores compared to those without ADHD. Both adaptive and maladaptive behavioral emotion regulation were found to be related to depression severity. However, these effects were similar for both groups and did not moderate the relationship between ADHD and depression. These findings contribute to the already well-established link between ADHD and depression. A lack of moderation effects suggests that deficits in emotion regulation for ADHD might rather be cognitive than behavioral in nature. Our results emphasize that emotion regulation should be more nuanced and split into cognitive and behavioral components. Since both maladaptive and adaptive behavioral emotion regulation were linked to depression, equipping both ADHD and non-ADHD individuals with adaptive strategies can be a protective factor against the onset of depression and may also enhance treatment outcomes.Show less

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Exploring the Moderating Role of Behavioral Emotion Regulation on the Association between ADHD and Depression