Emotion regulation strategies, self-esteem, and anger in adult survivors of childhood maltreatment in foster care settings

Abstract Background Anger is a known factor that adds to the distress caused by mental health problems in traumatized samples. Limited strategies for emotion regulation play a key role in this relationship. People with a history of severe trauma frequently report less adaptive emotion regulation strategies, low self-esteem, and high levels of anger. To our knowledge, their interrelationship has not yet been sufficiently researched. Method We investigated the mediating role of self-esteem in the relation between emotion regulation strategies and different forms of anger (trait anger and anger rumination) in an Austrian sample of adult survivors of childhood abuse in foster care homes (n = 220). Results The relationship of emotion regulation strategies (DERS), trait anger (STAXI), anger rumination (DAQ), and self-esteem (MSWS) was assessed using two mediation models. Both models showed significant mediation effects. Self-esteem mediated 26% of the effect of emotion regulation on trait anger and 57.5% of the effect of emotion regulation on anger rumination. Conclusion Self-esteem potentially supports adaptive emotion regulation through its beneficial effects on distressing emotional states. As a practical implication for treatment, it may be assumed that supporting adaptive emotion regulation strategies and self-esteem positively influences anger in traumatized patients.