Emotion Processing in Children of Parents with a Mental Illness: A Multimodal Approach to Emotion Recognition and Emotion Regulation

Abstract

This dissertation investigates emotion processing (EP), specifically facial emotion recognition (FER) and emotion regulation (ER), in children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI). Given the established risk COPMI face regarding the development of mental disorders, understanding these mechanisms is critical for targeted prevention and intervention. The dissertation comprises two empirical studies employing a multimodal assessment approach: The first study examined FER abilities in 189 children, including 77 COPMI and 112 controls. Participants completed three distinct FER tasks—a Morphing Task assessing accuracy and reaction times in identifying gradual emotional expressions, an Emotional Go/No-Go Task measuring response inhibition to emotional stimuli, and a Video Task assessing the naming accuracy of emotions depicted in realistic video clips. Contrary to existing literature predominantly reporting FER deficits in COPMI, the results of Bayesian hierarchical modeling revealed no robust, general FER deficits across tasks. Although minor significant differences emerged, Bayesian factors suggested these were not reliably indicative of impairment. Thus, the study concludes that FER deficits may not be a general characteristic of COPMI but could depend on individual factors such as parental diagnosis type or timing. The second study addressed ER in COPMI using both trait and state measures to capture comprehensive regulatory profiles. Trait ER, measured through self-report questionnaires, revealed COPMI to rely more on maladaptive ER strategies compared to children of parents without mental illness (COPWMI). State ER was assessed using physiological markers (heart rate and electrodermal activity) during emotional stimuli exposure and cognitive measures (inhibitory control via an Emotional Go/No-Go Task). Findings indicated heightened physiological arousal and reduced inhibitory control in COPMI, highlighting state ER impairments. Furthermore, trait maladaptive ER strategies significantly predicted impaired state ER, underscoring the interconnectedness of habitual and situational emotional regulation mechanisms. Collectively, this dissertation contributes critical insights into the emotional processing vulnerabilities among COPMI, emphasizing the nuanced nature of FER deficits and underscoring significant ER challenges. These findings support the need for tailored interventions focusing specifically on improving maladaptive ER strategies in this vulnerable group, potentially reducing their heightened risk of transgenerational transmission of mental disorders.