(PS11-C53) Parent Baseline PTSD Severity and Improvements in Emotion Regulation Independently Predicted Family Functioning: A Study of a Program for Parents Whose Children Engaged in Self-harm/suicide Attempt

Introduction.  PTSD is related to difficulties in emotion regulation (Larsen et al., 2020) and can negatively influence family functioning (Dunne et al., 2021). Some evidence suggests that emotion regulation difficulties can mediate the relationship between family functioning and PTSD (Thompson-Hollands et al., 2018). We tested whether this finding could be replicated with a sample of caregivers who participated in Family Connections - Managing Suicidality and Trauma Recovery (FC-MSTR) - a DBT-informed education and skills program designed to support parents who experience PTSD-related problems following their child’s non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and/or suicide attempt (SA). We hypothesized that changes in emotion regulation difficulties would mediate the relationship between PTSD severity and later family functioning.

Method.  Participants were caregivers (N = 160) who participated in FC-MSTR and had adolescent and young adult children ages 14 to 34 who had previously engaged in NSSI and/or SA. Among them, 104 were the child’s biological mother (65%), 35 were biological fathers (21.9%), and 11 were adoptive parents (6.9%). Majority (83.1%) identified as White/Caucasian. On average, the participants’ children had been hospitalized for 3.8 times and had presented to the ER for 8.0 times. 

Participants completed questionnaires before and 6 weeks after participating in the program. The questionnaires included measures of PTSD (PCL-5; Blevins et al., 2015), emotion regulation difficulties (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and family functioning (FAD-GF; Epstein et al., 1983), as well as demographic questionnaires.

Data analysis.  Mediation analysis was conducted in SPSS with PROCESS v.4 macro. Baseline PCL-5 related to caregivers’ child’s NSSI/SA, change in DERS scores between baseline and 6-week follow-up, and FAD-GF scores at 6-week follow-up were used.

Results.  Results indicate that baseline PCL scores significantly predicted changes in DERS scores (p < .016). Change in DERS also significantly predicted FAD-GF at follow-up (p = .02). The total effect of baseline PCL on T1 FAD was significant (p = .012). When accounting for the indirect effect of change in DERS, the direct effect of baseline PCL on FAD on follow-up remained significant.

Discussion.  Changes in caregivers’ DERS did not account for the effect of PTSD on family functioning. While interventions that focus on improving emotion regulation skills can be helpful in improving family functioning among parents who experience trauma reactions after their children engage in self-injurious behaviors, it is also important to target PTSD-related problems directly.