The Effects of Emotion Regulation on Physical and Psychological Wellbeing in University Students: The Role of Depersonalization and Attachment Style

Abstract

ABSTRACT Our ability to regulate our emotions plays a key protective role against psychological distress and somatic symptoms, with most of the literature focusing on the role of cognitive reappraisal in interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This study seeks to examine the relationship between emotion dysregulation and psychological and physical distress in university students through the role of depersonalization (DP) and insecure attachment. This study will try to explain the deployment of DP as a defense mechanism to insecure attachment fears and overwhelming stress, developing a maladaptive emotion responding strategy, which affects wellbeing later in life. A cross-sectional design was used on a sample (N = 313) of university students over the age of 18 which consisted of an online survey of 7 questionnaires. Hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analysis were conducted on the results. The results showed that emotion dysregulation and DP predicted each variable of psychological distress and somatic symptoms. Both insecure attachment styles were found to predict psychological distress and somatization, mediated through higher levels of DP, whereby DP may be deployed as a defense mechanism to insecure attachment fears and overwhelming stress, which affects our wellbeing. Clinical implications of these findings highlight the importance of screening for DP in young adults and university students.