Network structure of internalizing symptoms and self-regulation facets in late adolescence

Internalizing symptoms – encompassing depression anxiety, somatic symptoms and social withdrawal – represent the leading contributors to the global health burden among children and adolescents (Whiteford et al., 2013). Longitudinal research has consistently identified three to four developmental trajectories of internalizing symptoms from childhood to adolescence. Notably, individuals exhibiting stable high or increasing internalizing symptoms appear to be at particular risk for enduring mental health difficulties in late adolescence and young adulthood (e.g. Chaiton et al., 2013; Klinge et al., 2025; Portogallo et al, 2024). In recent years, the use of data-driven, exploratory network analyses has gained importance as a means of investigating the structural configuration and interrelations between single internalizing symptoms (Borsboom et al., 2011; McElroy & Patalay, 2019; Wang et al., 2024). Beyond characterizing symptom networks, this analytical approach offers valuable opportunities to examine how internalizing symptoms relate to a broader context of psychological constructs that pose a risk for their development, such as reduced self-regulation (meta-analysis: Musliner et al., 2016). SR is the ability to control and adjust thoughts, behaviors, emotions, and physiological responses to achieve long-term goals (Bailey & Jones, 2019; Nigg, 2017; Robson et al., 2020). SR encompasses several distinct yet interrelated facets, including emotional reactivity, emotion regulation, and planning behavior. Numerous studies have demonstrated significant associations between these SR facets and internalizing symptoms throughout childhood and adolescence (Aldao et al., 2010; Carthy et al., 2010; Kostyrka-Allchorne et al., 2020; Schäfer et al., 2017; Yang et al., 2022). However, the mechanisms underlying these associations are still being debated. One explanatory framework is the spectrum model, which posits that internalizing symptoms and SR are partially overlapping constructs on a continuous spectrum that potentially share common causes (Tackett, 2006; Klinge et al., 2025). In accordance with this model, Klinge et al. (2025) have shown that internalizing symptoms are strongly associated with emotional reactivity and planning behavior at the between-person level, i.e. have highly correlated random intercepts in a random intercept cross-lagged panel model from ages 6 to 13. To advance the empirical evaluation of the spectrum model further, this study aims to examine how strongly internalizing symptoms and SR facets are connected by applying exploratory network analysis. Despite its potential, only a limited number of studies have used network approaches to investigate the interplay between internalizing symptoms and SR facets. 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