The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties in the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms among University Students

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to affect mental health, yet their influence on anxiety symptoms in university students and the role of emotion regulation remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and generalized anxiety symptoms, with emotion regulation difficulties as a potential mediator. Total number of participants were 300 undergraduates of both public and the private universities in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Standardized measures i.e. Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were utilized. A Pearson Correlation’s analysis indicated that ACEs were not markedly connected to either emotion regulation difficulties or generalized anxiety symptoms, but emotion regulation troubles were significantly related to higher levels of anxiety (r = 0.56, p <.01). Linear regression revealed that anxiety symptoms was not predicted by ACEs (B = 0.83, SE = 0.63, p =.186). Mediation analysis revealed that emotional regulation problems were not mediating, but predicted anxiety symptoms independently (B = 0.47, SE = 0.04, p <.001). Such results indicate that the early adversity in this sample does not have direct or indirect impact in this sample on anxiety but difficulties in emotion regulation are a major predictor. The paper highlights the relevance of emotion regulation intervention to curb anxiety in students in universities.