Are Parental Internalizing Problems and Emerging Adult Emotion Regulation Moderated by Gender?

Children of parents with internalizing problems are at greater risk for developing psychological disorders. However, the link between parental internalizing problems and emotion regulation in emerging adults remains unclear. Additionally, gender differences in emotion regulation have been found for parents and their offspring. This study examined how perceived parental internalizing problems relate to emotion regulation in emerging adults, considering the gender of both parents and their children from cisgender households. University students (N = 488; 138 men, 350 women) completed measures of parental internalizing behaviors and self-reported emotion regulation. Results revealed that both mother and father internalizing behaviors were associated with their children's emotion regulation, regardless of gender. Study limitations and clinical implications are discussed.