Fatores associados a dificuldades de regulação emocional em jovens universitários = Emotional regulation difficulties and associated factors in university students

A dificuldade de regulacao emocional tem sido identificada em varios estudos empiricos como um fator associado a problemas de ajustamento psicologico em adolescentes e jovens adultos. O presente estudo analisou a relacao entre as dimensoes de regulacao emocional (Escala de Dificuldades de Regulacao Emocional) e de qualidade de vida (WHOQOL-Bref) numa amostra de estudantes universitarios. Um estudo transversal foi realizado num grupo de 31 participantes com 20.03+3.78 de media de idades. Os dados foram recolhidos atraves de um questionario de autopreenchimento que incluiu informacao sociodemografica, bem como variaveis de regulacao emocional e de qualidade de vida. A analise dos dados foi feita com base no modelo de equacoes estruturais (AMOS Statistics, Version 26). Os participantes apresentaram maiores dificuldades de regulacao emocional na dimensao “falta de consciencia emocional”, seguida de um “acesso limitado a estrategias de regulacao emocional”. A percecao de saude fisica e psicologica, o processo de adaptacao ao ensino superior (particularmente a adaptacao pessoal e emocional, a adaptacao a instituicao e a percecao de desenvolvimento de carreira), a pratica de exercicio fisico, o consumo de substâncias (alcool e tabaco), a utilizacao de redes sociais, e o indice de massa corporal demonstraram ser preditores de dificuldades de regulacao emocional. O presente estudo procurou evidenciar as conexoes entre dimensoes emocionais e qualidade de vida para as dificuldades de regulacao emocional em estudantes universitarios. Tendo em conta os resultados podera sugerir-se que nesta populacao, a implementacao de programas de intervencao focados na prevencao de fatores de risco, na promocao de comportamentos de protecao e de competencias pessoais e sociais, podem ser relevantes para a melhoria do processo de regulacao emocional. Emotional regulation has been identified as a factor related to difficulties in psychological adjustment in adolescents and young adults. The present study analysed the relationship between the dimensions of emotional regulation (Scale of Emotional Regulation Difficulties) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) in a sample of university students. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of 31 participants with an average age of 20.03+3.78. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic information, emotional regulation and quality of life variables. Data analysis was performed using a structural equation model (AMOS statistics, Version 26). Participants presented higher emotional regulation’ difficulties for the dimension "lack of emotional awareness", followed by "limited access to emotional regulation strategies". The physical and psychological health’s perception, the higher education adaptation process (particularly personal and emotional adaptation, adaptation to the institution and career development perception), physical exercise, substance use (alcohol and tobacco) ), the use of social networks, and the body mass index demonstrated to be predictors for difficulties in emotional regulation. The present study sought to highlight the connections between emotional dimensions and quality of life for the difficulties of emotional regulation in university students. Taking into account the results, it may be suggested that, in this population, the implementation of intervention programs focused on the prevention of risk factors, the promotion of protective behaviors and personal and social skills, may be relevant for improving the process of emotional regulation. Palavras-chave / Keywords: Regulacao emocional, Percecao de saude fisica/psicologica, Adaptacao pessoal, Estrategias, Jovens universitarios. Emotional regulation, Physical/psychologic health perception, Personal adaptation, Strategies, University students.