The mediating role of emotion regulation in the effect of perceived social support on adaptation to the maternal role in adolescent pregnant women

Aim: This study aims to examine the mediating effect of emotion regulation difficulties on the relationship between perceived social support and adaptation to the maternal role in adolescent pregnancies. Material and method: The research was conducted within the framework of a correlational survey model, and structural equation modeling was used in the analysis of the data. Data collection took place between December 5, 2024, and August 1, 2025. The study population consisted of pregnant adolescents aged 15–19 living in the provinces of Ardahan, Ağrı, Bayburt, Elazığ, Erzurum, and Muş. The sample was determined based on stratified sampling, and a total of 310 adolescent pregnant women were included in the study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the Prenatal Self-Assessment Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale. Results: Statistically significant relationships were found between perceived social support, emotion regulation difficulties, and prenatal self-assessment variables. Perceived social support was found to be negatively associated with emotion regulation difficulties and prenatal self-assessment, while emotion regulation difficulties were found to be positively associated with prenatal self-assessment. It was determined that perceived social support has both a direct and an indirect, meaningful effect on prenatal self-assessment through emotion regulation difficulties. Structural equation modelling results revealed that emotion regulation difficulties play a mediating role in this relationship. Conclusion: It has been determined that as the level of social support perceived by adolescent pregnant women increases, difficulties in emotion regulation decrease; whereas an increase in difficulties in emotion regulation is associated with adaptation to the maternal role. In particular, it has been observed that the awareness and strategy dimensions of difficulties in emotion regulation significantly predict adaptation to the maternal role. Overall, the results indicate that the effect of social support on adaptation to the maternal role is indirectly strengthened through emotional regulation difficulties.