Smoking,
self-harm,
eating disorders, and addiction have all been associated with emotional dysregulation.
Somatoform disorders may be caused by a decreased ability to regulate and experience emotions or an inability to express emotions in a positive way. Individuals who have difficulty regulating emotions are at risk for eating disorders and
substance abuse, as they may use food or substances as a way to regulate their emotions. Emotional dysregulation is also found in people who have an increased risk of developing a
mental disorder, particularly an
affective disorder such as
depression or
bipolar disorder.
Childhood Dysregulation is more prevalent in this age group, and is generally seen to decrease as children develop. During early childhood, emotional dysregulation or reactivity is considered to be situational rather than indicative of emotional disorders. The role of parents in a child's development is acknowledged by
attachment theory, which argues that the characteristics of the caregiver-child relationship impact future relationships. Current research indicates that parent-child relationships characterized by less affection and greater hostility may result in children developing emotional regulation problems. If the child's emotional needs are ignored or rejected, they may experience greater difficulty dealing with emotions in the future. Moreover, conflict between parents is linked to increased emotional reactivity or dysregulation in children. Other factors involved include the quality of relationship with peers, the child's temperament, and social or cognitive understanding. Research has shown that failures in emotional regulation may be related to the display of
acting out,
externalizing disorders, or behavior problems. When presented with challenging tasks, children who were found to have defects in emotional regulation (high-risk) spent less time attending to tasks and more time throwing tantrums or fretting than children without emotional regulation problems (low-risk). High-risk children had difficulty with self-regulation, had difficulty complying with requests from caregivers and were more defiant. Emotional dysregulation has also been associated with childhood social withdrawal.
Internalizing behaviors Emotional dysregulation in children can be associated with
internalizing behaviors including: Moreover, it has been observed that more female teens struggle with emotional dysregulation than males. Professional treatment, such as therapy or admittance into a psychiatric facility, is recommended. A study at
University College Dublin found that dysregulation correlates to negative feelings about one's ability to cope with emotions and rumination in adults. They also found dysregulation to be common in a sample of individuals not affected by mental disorders. Part of emotional dysregulation, which is a core characteristic in borderline personality disorder, is
affective instability, which manifests as rapid and frequent shifts in
mood of high
affect intensity and rapid onset of
emotions, often triggered by environmental stimuli. The return to a stable emotional state is notably delayed, exacerbating the challenge of achieving emotional equilibrium. This instability is further intensified by an acute sensitivity to
psychosocial cues, leading to significant challenges in managing emotions effectively. == Effect on relationships ==