Difficulties In Emotion Regulation Scale Research Articles

Dialectical behavioral therapy-based group treatment versus treatment as usual for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

BackgroundStudies on structured skills training groups have indicated beneficial, although still inconclusive, effects on core symptoms of ADHD in adults. This trial examined effects of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy-based group treatment (DBT-bGT) on the broader and clinically relevant executive functioning and emotional regulation in adults with ADHD.MethodsIn a multicenter randomized controlled trial, adult patients with ADHD were randomly assigned to receive either weekly DBT-bGT or treatment as usual (TAU) during 14 weeks. Subsequently, participants receiving TAU were offered DBT-bGT. All were reassessed six months after ended DBT-bGT. Primary outcomes were the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-A) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Secondary outcomes included self-reported ADHD-symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. We used independent samples t- tests to compare the mean difference of change from pre- to post-treatment between the two treatment groups, and univariate linear models adjusting for differences between sites.ResultsIn total, 121 participants (68 females), mean age 37 years, from seven outpatient clinics were included, of whom 104 (86%) completed the 14-week trial. Entering the study, 63% used medication for ADHD. Compared to TAU (n = 54), patients initially completing DBT-bGT (n = 50) had a significantly larger mean reduction on the BRIEF-A (-12.8 versus -0.37, P = 0.005, effect size 0.64), and all secondary outcomes, except for symptoms of anxiety. All significant improvements persisted at 6 months follow-up. Change on DERS did not differ significantly between the groups after 14 weeks, but scores continued to decrease between end of group-treatment and follow-up.ConclusionsThis DBT-bGT was superior to TAU in reducing executive dysfunction, core symptoms of ADHD and in improving quality of life in adults with ADHD. Improvements sustained six months after ended treatment. The feasibility and results of this study provide evidence for this group treatment as a suitable non-pharmacological treatment option for adults with ADHD in ordinary clinical settings.Trial registrationsThe study was pre-registered in the ISRCTN registry (identification number ISRCTN30469893, date February 19th 2016) and at the ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02685254, date February 18th 2016).

Roles for Alexithymia, Emotion Dysregulation and Personality Features in Gambling Disorder: A Network Analysis.

Although there is a growing interest in exploring the specific role of both emotional regulation processes and alexithymia in gambling disorder (GD), evidence remains scarce. In order to delve deeper into the complex interactions between these factors, the present study aimed at exploring a network of the core GD-related features, including GD symptomatology and severity, emotion dysregulation, alexithymia, and personality features. The sample included N = 739 treatment-seeking patients with GD (691 men and 48 women), aged 18-78years (mean age = 39.2, SD = 13.2). The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria were assessed in, and the South Oaks Gambling Screen, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), and Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised were administered to, participants. A network analysis was conducted to reveal inter-relationships between these elements. Three nodes related to emotion dysregulation showed the most critical position in the whole network of the present study: "lack of emotional awareness", "non-acceptance of emotional responses", and "difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviors". When analyzing emotional dysregulation using the different DERS subscales, two independent clusters were identified. One cluster encompassed alexithymia dimensions ("lack of awareness" and "lack of clarity"), while the other cluster included all other emotion-dysregulation dimensions. Identification of the emotion-dysregulation- and GD-related features with the highest centrality/linkage may be particularly useful for developing valid measurement tools and precise management plans for individuals with GD.

The Role of Emotional Dysregulation, Impulsivity Traits and Aggressive Behaviors in Adolescents Who Sustain Multiple Motor-Vehicle Crashes.

Adolescents tend to experience multiple motor-vehicle crashes (MVCs). Recent literature has thoroughly explored the psychological consequences following an MVC, but prior psychological functioning, the ability to regulate one's emotions and tendencies to impulsivity and aggressive behaviors have been far less explored. This study aims to explore the emotional-behavioral functioning, measured with the Youth Self-Report (YSR); emotional dysregulation, measured with the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS); impulsivity traits, measured with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11); and the capacity to be mindful, measured with the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), in adolescents that have experienced one or more MVCs in a year. N = 295 adolescents who visited an emergency department for MVCs were divided in two groups based on the number of MVCs they had sustained over the course of a year. The adolescents in Group 1 sustained more than three MVCs, and adolescents in Group 2 sustained only one. Participants were assessed through self-report questionnaires. Adolescents showed difficulties in emotional regulation, impulsivity traits, aggressive behaviors and a low capacity to be mindful. These results may be useful in the creation of intervention and prevention programs focused on emotional awareness targets for adolescents.

The relationship between difficulty in emotion regulation and metaworry and the tolerance of ambiguity in patients with schizophrenia

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder, and one of the variables that are important in people with schizophrenia is emotional self-regulation. On the other hand, another study has shown that there is a relationship between emotion regulation disorder and ambiguity intolerance. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation and meta-concern in the tolerance of ambiguity in patients with schizophrenia. Method: The present study was a correlational study and a cross-sectional study was conducted. The research population was schizophrenic patients referred to the Forghani-Nekoui Psychiatric Center in Qom in 2020. The sample of the study was 141 hospitalized patients or referred to a psychiatric center, which were selected using the convenience sampling method. In order to collect information, Questionnaires on Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale, Wells' Metacognitions Questionnaire and Ambiguity Tolerance Questionnaire were used. Research data were analyzed using pathway analysis with PLS software. Results: The average score of the difficulty in performing purposeful behaviors in times of helplessness was 54.1±21.63 and the average score of the difficulty in controlling impulsive behaviors in times of helplessness was 67.27±19.27. The average score of the ambiguity tolerance questions was 25.12±4.32. No significant relationship was found in the relationship between the variables, difficulty of emotion regulation and transcendence, difficulty of emotion regulation and tolerance of ambiguity. The only significant relationship was shown between the effect of meta-worry on the ambiguity tolerance (P=0.049). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that these patients, as mentioned, have less capacity to tolerate ambiguity and meta-worry. It is suggested to pay more attention to these aspects in the treatment of schizophrenia patients.

The Correlation Between Emotional Dysregulation and Deliberate Self-harm Among College Students in Malang

This study aimed to examine the correlation between emotional dysregulation and self-harm behavior among college students in Malang city. The research topic was based on the phenomenon of self-harm among college students. A quantitative and descriptive correlational approach was used. The population of this sample was students from various universities in Malang who had committed acts of self-harm, a total sample of 94 college students were obtained by accidental sampling. Two instruments were used, namely Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18) (α = .840, n = 94) to measure emotional dysregulation and Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DHSI) to measure self-harm behavior (α = .818, n = 94). The result of the study showed a significance value of .000 (< .05) and a correlation coefficient of .726. Based on these results, it can be said that there is a relationship between emotional dysregulation and self-harm behavior.
 Keywords: emotional dysregulation, deliberate self-harm, college students

E-Estesia: A Serious Game for Reducing Arousal, Improving Emotional Regulation and Increasing Wellbeing in Individuals with Gambling Disorder.

Gambling disorder (GD) is associated with deficits in emotion regulation and impulsivity-related personality traits. In recent years there has been an increase in the use of serious games (SG) to address these factors with positive results. The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of the intervention with a new SG (e-Estesia), as an adjunct to a CBT intervention for GD. The sample comprised two groups (experimental group (n = 40) and control group (n = 64)) of patients with GD diagnosis. Both groups received 16 weekly CBT sessions and, concurrently, only the experimental group received 15 additional sessions with e-Estesia. Pre-post treatment with e-Estesia administered in both groups were: DSM-5 Criteria, South Oaks Gambling Screen, Symptom Checklist-Revised and measure of relapses, dropout and compliance of treatment. As regards the experimental group were also administered: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Impulsive Behavior Scale. No statistically significant differences in the general psychopathological state, emotion regulation or impulsivity were found when comparing the groups. However, patients enrolled in the e-Estesia intervention had significantly less relapses and better indicators of treatment compliance than the control group. Considering these results, the use of complementary tools such as SG are useful for addressing GD.

Rasch analysis of the scores of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS) in a traffic context

The functional approach of emotion regulation has been mainly used in the clinical context. However, other fields such as traffic psychology have also adopted this perspective, showing interest in how difficulties in emotion regulation might interfere in driving. Various driving styles have been associated with maladaptive emotion regulation. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is the most commonly used instrument to assess ER difficulties and it is often used in the context of driving. Most studies have scored DERS by using procedures of the classical test theory approach instead of advanced psychometrics. In this study, a sample of 318 male drivers aged between 20 and 69 (M age = 41.6 years, SD = 11.0) completed the DERS. The total sample was divided in two halves: drivers with road traffic offences and matched controls. Data analysis was carried out using the Rasch Rating Scale Model (RSM). Results indicated that response categories performed inadequately. Collapsing the 5 original categories into 3 new categories was necessary. To meet the unidimensionality requirement, both the first DERS item and the awareness subscale were removed. Model-data fit was then good enough. Item Separation Reliability (ISR = 0.97) was excellent and Person Separation Reliability (PSR = 0.89) was quite good. Even though requirements of invariant measurement were met, there was low validity evidence for the driving context.

Emotion regulation, perfectionism, and eating disorder symptoms in adolescents: the mediating role of cognitive eating patterns.

Poor emotion regulation, along with elevated perfectionism, is recognised as a risk factor for the development of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Therefore, the aim of our study was to examine the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and perfectionism with ED symptoms, while controlling for emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint as mediators. In total, 482 adolescents (246 girls and 236 boys; M = 15.00, SD = 0.31) participated in this study. Based on the participants' body height and weight measured by the medical team during their regular preventive health examinations, the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Participants also answered the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. According to the results obtained, adolescent girls in our sample reported more difficulties in emotion regulation, more uncontrolled and emotional eating, and more ED symptoms. A significant direct effect was found for difficulties in emotion regulation and ED symptoms but not for perfectionism. In addition, only emotional eating and cognitive restraint (not uncontrolled eating) mediated the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and perfectionism and ED symptoms. The results suggest that difficulties in emotion regulation may be more important than perfectionism in explaining ED symptoms in a sample of healthy adolescents. When adolescents experience problems in emotion regulation in combination with emotional or uncontrolled eating, they might be at a higher risk of experiencing concerns about weight and a variety of other ED symptoms, and this should be considered when planning preventive interventions for adolescents.

Emotion regulation difficulties link trait resilience and symptoms of depression and anxiety in psychiatric outpatients.

Despite negative associations of trait resilience with depression and anxiety symptoms, the mechanisms by which resilience may buffer against these symptoms remain underexplored. This study investigated emotion regulation difficulties as a potential link in the relationship between trait resilience and depression and anxiety severity in psychiatric outpatients (N = 353). Participants diagnosed with primary depression or anxiety disorders were evaluated prior to treatment initiation with the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS), and Clinically Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (CUXOS). In the depression sample, the effect of resilience on CUDOS scores was fully mediated by total DERS scores. In the anxiety sample, the effect of resilience on CUXOS scores was partially mediated by total DERS scores. Exploratory parallel mediation analyses showed only the DERS subscale strategies had a significant effect on CUDOS scores, while only goals had a significant effect on CUXOS scores. Emotion regulation difficulties are a mediator of trait resilience in psychiatric outpatients. For patients seeking treatment for depression, difficulties with accessing emotion regulation strategies may be particularly relevant, while difficulties meeting one's goals may be most relevant for patients seeking treatment for anxiety.

Emotional clarity and awareness predict obsessive–compulsive disorder symptoms during exposure and response prevention in a naturalistic treatment sample

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with “emotional disconnections” (e.g., difficulty understanding your emotions), but very limited work has examined these links prospectively or in the context of OCD treatment. This study tested the hypotheses that emotional clarity and emotional awareness would predict improvement in OCD symptoms during Exposure and Response Prevention (ExRP) in a naturalistic treatment sample, based on the putative impact of these factors on emotional processing. We tested the effect of baseline levels of emotional clarity and awareness (measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) on OCD symptoms at baseline, mid- and post-treatment (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory, Revised) in a study of adults diagnosed with OCD and receiving ExRP in an open treatment clinic ( N = 131) using multilevel modeling. Both lack of emotional clarity and lack of emotional awareness predicted OCD symptom severity at post-treatment. Lack of awareness also predicted greater improvement in OCD symptoms during treatment, while clarity did not. Consistent with previous research, individuals who reported being less clear about their emotions had more severe OCD symptoms at post-treatment. Extending previous findings, those who reported being more aware of their emotions before treatment showed less symptom improvement during treatment. Clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.

Sensation seeking predicts risky driving behavior: The mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation.

The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating effect of difficulties in emotion regulation on the relationship between sensation seeking and driving behavior based on the dual-process model of aberrant driving behavior. A sample of 299 drivers in China completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Driver Behavior Questionnaire, and the Sensation Seeking Scale V (SSS). The relationships among sensation seeking, difficulties in emotion regulation, and driving behavior were investigated using pathway analysis. The results showed that (1) disinhibition and boredom susceptibility are positively and significantly related to difficulties in emotion regulation and risky driving behaviors; (2) difficulties in emotion regulation are positively and significantly associated with risky driving behaviors; (3) difficulties in emotion regulation mediate the effect of sensation seeking on driving behaviors, supporting the dual-process model of driving behavior; and (4) professional drivers score higher in terms of difficulties in emotion regulation and risky driving behaviors than nonprofessional drivers. The findings of this study could provide valuable insights into the selection of suitable drivers and the development of certain programs that benefit road safety.

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Positive and Negative Symptoms and Emotion Regulation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Single-case Clinical Trial Study

Background: The literature suggests the increasing application of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of ACT on the positive and negative symptoms and emotion regulation of patients with SSD. Methods: The experimental design of the current study was an AB (baseline and intervention phases) along with the follow-up phase, in addition to Treatment-As-Usual (TAU), ACT sessions were held for the participants. Among the 20 participants who had inclusion criteria to the study, five participant (three men and two women in the age range of 32 - 43 years) were randomly allocated to participate in the intervention through drawing and evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) in three phases of baseline, intervention, and follow-up. For data analysis, non-overlapping indices and Cohen's d effect size were measured, and visual diagrams were plotted for interpretation. Results: The present results showed that the effect sizes of psychotic symptoms in the first to fifth participants were 1.7, 1.9, 0.6, 4, and 1.4, respectively in the intervention phase relative to the baseline; the effect size was only large for the fourth participant. Also, the effect sizes of emotion regulation in the first to fifth participants were 0.8, 1.6, 1.5, 1.2, and 2.7, respectively; the effect size was only large for the fifth participant. Conclusions: The results of data analysis showed that ACT is effective in reducing psychotic symptoms and improving emotion regulation. The effect size of ACT was the largest for the fourth participant; medium for the first, second, and fifth participants; and small for the third participant.

The Difficulties in Emotional Regulation among a Cohort of Females with Lipedema.

Background: Lipedema is a chronic and progressive adipose tissue disorder that causes significant morbidity and negatively influences mental health and quality of life, and increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. One construct of relevance to better understanding psychological disorders is emotion regulation (ER). Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the difficulties in ER among lipedema patients compared to healthy people without lipedema. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed differences in ER and anxiety between two groups: 26 female patients with lipedema and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) assessed emotional regulation across six dimensions: Impulse control, goal-directed behavior, awareness, clarity, non-acceptance, and strategies. Anxiety was assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A). ANOVA assessed differences in measures between lipedema and healthy control groups. Results: Lipedema patients presented with significantly more difficulties in ER and a higher level of anxiety than those without lipedema. Specifically, the lipedema group showed higher and significant differences in total DERS and anxiety scores and all DERS subscales scores compared to those without lipedema. Conclusions: Lipedema patients showed significant difficulties with ER, and were associated with anxiety symptoms, indicating that ER difficulties may play a role in developing emotional disorders, such as anxiety, for patients with lipedema. The health care provider should pay more attention to ER difficulties and psychological status among lipedema patients.

Using targeted visceroception to improve interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation

Focusing on one's body can improve the awareness and regulation of emotion. Interoception – sensing the physiological condition of the body, particularly of the viscera – appears to play an important role. While the majority of previous research studies have examined interoceptive sensitivity (i.e., detection of objectively measurable physiological changes), there has been relatively limited investigation of interoceptive sensibility (i.e., subjective awareness of those changes), and even fewer studies permitting causal conclusions. The current study is part of a randomised controlled trial on visceroception in the context of emotion regulation, using an 8-week intervention involving focused attention on either cardiac or gastrointestinal activity. Group differences in emotion regulation and reactivity were assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Emotion Reactivity Scale (ERS). The findings suggest that focussed attention on gastrointestinal activity (i.e., gastroception), in particular, improves interoceptive sensibility and emotion regulation, as evidenced by increases on the MAIA's Noticing, Body Listening, and Self-regulation subscales, and decreases on the Arousal subscale of the ERS. Gastroception may make distinct contributions to the benefits of body focus in a research context where the gut is often overlooked.

The Development and Validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8: Providing Respondents with a Uniform Context That Elicits Thinking About Situations Requiring Emotion Regulation

Emotion regulation difficulties are associated with a range of psychological disorders. A widely used measure of emotion regulation is the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36). There are also three shortened DERS versions. Consistent with current efforts to build very brief versions of measures, the aim of this research is to develop a briefer DERS and evaluate its construct validity. Study 1 uses IRT methods coupled with content considerations to develop a briefer unidimensional DERS. Previous attempts to shorten the DERS have not considered how frame of reference may influence responses to items. The new DERS-8 includes only items prefaced with the phrase “When I’m upset,” to provide respondents with a uniform context that elicits thinking about situations requiring regulation of negative emotion; answers to items are more likely to represent affect, thought, and actions in response to such situations. Study 2 showed that the DERS-8 performed well in an IRT analysis among adolescents with psychiatric disorders and showed similar group differences, sensitivity to change, and correlations with other variables compared to existing DERS versions, in both healthy adult and clinical adolescent samples. The DERS-8 offers a very brief unidimensional measure of difficulties in emotion regulation for adolescents and adults.

Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Experiential Avoidance in the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Severity of Relationship Obsessive -compulsive Disorder Symptoms

Objectives Relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder (ROCD) is one of the forms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, focusing on intimate relationships. Identifying the mechanisms of ROCD can significantly expand our knowledge of the factors related to its development and exacerbation. This study aims to determine the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation and experiential avoidance in the relationship between attachment styles and the severity of ROCD symptoms. Methods Five hundred thirty-one participants (455 females and 76 males) were selected using convenient sampling from the general population of Iran. They completed the Experiences in close relationships-revised (ECR-R), the difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), the acceptance and action questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and the Relationship Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (ROCI) online. SPSS software, version 22 and AMOS version 24 were used to analyze data. Results Attachment styles had a significant correlation with difficulties in emotion regulation, experiential avoidance, and ROCD symptoms (P<0.01). Moreover, the two variables of difficulties in emotion regulation and experiential avoidance had a mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles and ROCD symptoms. Conclusion Attachment styles can predict the ROCD symptoms directly and indirectly by the difficulties in emotion regulation and experiential avoidance. Difficulties in emotion regulation and experiential avoidance should be considered in treatment of ROCD symptoms, especially in those with insecure attachment styles.

Cyberbullying and Gambling Disorder: Associations with Emotion Regulation and Coping Strategies

The presence of unsuitable coping and emotion regulation strategies in young populations with gambling disorder (GD) and in those who have experienced cyberbullying victimization has been suggested. However, this association has not been explored in depth. In this study, our aim was to analyze individual differences in emotion regulation, coping strategies, and substance abuse in a clinical sample of adolescents and young adult patients with GD (n = 31) and in a community sample (n = 250). Furthermore, we aimed to examine the association between cyberbullying and GD. Participants were evaluated using the Cyberbullying Questionnaire-Victimization, the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory, the Coping Strategies Inventory, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test. Structural Equation Modeling was used to explore associations between these factors in a community sample and in a clinical group. In both groups, exposure to cyberbullying behaviors was positively associated with higher emotion dysregulation and the use of maladaptative coping styles. Our findings uphold that adolescents and young adults who were victims of cyberbullying show difficulties in emotion regulation and maladaptive coping strategies when trying to solve problems. The specific contribution of sex, age, gambling severity, emotion regulation, and coping strategies on cyberbullying severity is also discussed. Populations at vulnerable ages could potentially benefit from public prevention policies that target these risk factors.

Madde Kullanım Bozukluğu olan Hastalarda Diyalektik Davranış Terapisi Grup Becerileri Eğitimi Pilot Çalışması: Madde Kullanım Şiddeti, Duygudurum ve İlişki Becerilerindeki Değişiklikler

Objective: This pilot study aimed to investigate effects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group Skills Training (DBT-ST) on patients’ severity of substance use status, mood and other psychological symptoms, difficulties in emotion regulation, interpersonal problem solving skills, and social competence. Method: Nine outpatient males with substance use disorders were administered the DBT-ST for 20 weeks. Age ranged between 17 and 34. Average years of substance use was 1.61 (SD=.29). DBT-ST modules (mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal skills, and distress tolerance) were administered for 20 weeks. Urine toxicology screenings, the Addiction Profile Index (API), the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Interpersonal Problem Solving Inventory, and the Perceived Social Competence Scale were administered at pre and post-treatment. Results: There were significant decreases in the severity of substance use with decreased number of positive drug screening test results and an increase in emotion regulation; decreases in the API total score, dependency diagnosis, and the effects of substance use on the user sub-scale scores; depression, hostility, and phobic anxiety sub-scale scores on the SCL-90-R; the BDI total score; and nonacceptance, strategies, clarity and impulsivity sub-scale scores of the DERS. Conclusion: The findings indicated a 20 week DBT-ST helped participants increase their days of abstinence, regulate emotional regulation, decrease depressive and anxiety symptoms, and substance related difficulties.

Difficulties in emotion regulation and ad libitum smoking topography: A secondary analysis

IntroductionDespite the well-known linkages between poor emotion regulation and subjective smoking motives, little is known about the role of emotion regulation in predicting smoking reinforcement behavior. This study examined the relation between difficulties in emotion regulation and puff velocity data, a behavioral index of smoking reinforcement, in adult daily cigarette smokers. MethodThe current study was a secondary analysis of data collected from non-treatment seeking daily smokers (N = 124). Participants completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) followed by an ad libitum smoking period during which puff topography data was collected via a handheld puffing device. Puff velocity served as our puff topography index and was examined at the average and puff-to-puff level using regression and multi-level models, respectively. ResultsRegression analyses showed no significant association between DERS scores and average puff velocity. In contrast, multi-level modeling found a significant quadratic time × DERS effect at the puff-to-puff level, such that those with greater emotion regulation difficulties inhaled more quickly at the initiation of the cigarette, whereas those with lower emotion regulation difficulties evidenced consistent puffing over the course of the cigarette. DiscussionSmokers with greater difficulties in emotion regulation appear to smoke in a way that maximizes delivery of nicotine, perhaps to self-regulate distress. One’s style of puffing may reflect a possible behavioral marker of negative reinforcement smoking, especially in the context of emotional distress. ImplicationsThis study was the first to explore the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and a behavioral measure of smoking reinforcement.

The interplay between emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, emotional eating, and weight status: A path model

Background/objectiveThe aim of the current cross-sectional study is to assess the relations between emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, emotional eating, and BMI in a sample of Italian young adults (20-35). MethodsA total sample of 600 participants frm the general population, were asked to fill in demographical and physical data, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire via an online anonymous survey. Relations between variables have been inspected using a path model. ResultsResults showed that emotion dysregulation was a contributor to higher levels of psychological distress [b= 0.348; SE: 0.020; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.306–0.387)] and emotional eating [b= 0.010; SE: 0.002; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.006–0.014)] which in turn, was related to higher Body Mass Index [b= 0.0574; SE: 0.145; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.286–0.863)]. ConclusionsBy providing additional evidence concerning the role of emotion dysregulation for physical and psychological outcomes, the current study could inform for improving psychological interventions aimed to promote emotion regulation strategies aimed at fostering physical and psychological well-being.