Emotion regulation predicts pain and functioning in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: an electronic diary study.
OBJECTIVE
This study utilized e-diaries to evaluate whether components of emotion regulation predict daily pain and function in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).


METHODS
43 children ages 8-17 years and their caregivers provided baseline reports of child emotion regulation. Children then completed thrice daily e-diary assessments of emotion, pain, and activity involvement for 28 days. E-diary ratings of negative and positive emotions were used to calculate emotion variability and to infer adaptive emotion modulation following periods of high or low emotion intensity. Hierarchical linear models were used to evaluate how emotion regulation related to pain and function.


RESULTS
The attenuation of negative emotion following a period of high negative emotion predicted reduced pain; greater variability of negative emotion predicted higher pain and increased activity limitation. Indices of positive emotion regulation also significantly predicted pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Components of emotion regulation as captured by e-diaries predict important health outcomes in children with JIA.
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. mconnelly1@cmh.edu
Mark
M
Connelly
Maggie H
MH
Bromberg
Kelly K
KK
Anthony
Karen M
KM
Gil
Lindsey
L
Franks
Laura E
LE
Schanberg
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000523:psychology