Emotion knowledge has not been explored in children with cerebral palsy (CP). To evaluate differences in emotion knowledge between children with CP and their typically developing peers (TDP), and explore its associations with affective regulation and behavioral psychopathology. 36 Children with CP and 45 TDP completed the Emotion Matching Task (emotion knowledge); their parents completed the Emotion Regulation Checklist and Child Behavior Checklist (emotional regulation and lability; psychopathological behaviors). Children with CP made more mistakes in emotion knowledge tasks, had lower emotional regulation and higher behavioral problems than their TDP. Emotion knowledge showed a positive correlation with emotional regulation and a negative correlation with behavioral problems, predicting psychopathological behaviors. Greater attention to emotion knowledge in children with CP could improve adjustment at social and behavioral functioning.
Keywords: Behavioral problems; Cerebral palsy; Emotion knowledge; Emotion lability; Emotion regulation.