Negative emotions and behaviour: The role of regulatory emotional self‐efficacy

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to test a longitudinal model that analyses the direct effect of negative emotions (anger, depression and anxiety, wave 1) on prosocial and aggressive behaviour (wave 2) in adolescents. And the indirect effect of negative emotions (wave 1) on prosocial and aggressive behaviour (wave 2) through regulatory emotional self‐efficacy. Data was obtained from 417 adolescents in a two‐wave longitudinal study (225 girls, M age = 14.70 years) from schools located in Valencia, Spain. SEM was employed to explore longitudinal models. The results showed that anger had a direct relationship with prosocial behaviour and aggression, measured two years later. However, the depression and anxiety states did not predict prosociality and aggressiveness. The mediation role of regulatory emotional self‐efficacy between negative emotion and behaviours was only partially confirmed. Finally, only the perception of self‐efficacy in expressing positive affect is related to prosociality and aggressiveness.