Emotional Clarity Research Articles

Exploring subjective well-being trough gender and emotional intelligence. A mediational model (Explorando el bienestar subjetivo a través del género y la inteligencia emocional. Un modelo mediacional)

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to examine the mediating effect of emotional intelligence between gender-typed attributes and subjective well-being. The participants were 711 Spaniards (mean age 24). The instruments used were PN-SRI-SP20 for gender-typed attributes, TMMS-24 for emotional intelligence, PANAS for positive and negative affect, and SWLS for satisfaction with life. The findings yielded the direct and indirect effects of the different subscales of emotional intelligence. Emotional clarity and repair were positively associated with subjective well-being, whereas emotional attention was negatively associated with subjective well-being. Positive dimensions of gender-typed attributes improved subjective well-being through emotional intelligence and were more important than the negative dimension. Men scored more than women in satisfaction with life, and women did in emotional intelligence (attention and repair). Programmes for increasing subjective well-being should pay attention to the gender typing and consider the relevance of the dimensions of emotional intelligence on subjective well-being.

The Relationship Between Separation-Individuation and the Adaptation to University Life: The Mediating Effect of Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Moderated by Emotional Clarity

목적 본 연구에서는 대학생의 분리 개별화가 대학생활의 적응에 미치는 영향을 전문적 도움추구태도가 매개하고 이 과정을 정서인식명확성이 조절하는지를 조절된 매개효과를 통해 검증하였다. 방법 이를 위해, 전국의 대학생을 대상으로 분리 개별화, 전문적 도움추구태도, 정서인식명확성, 대학생활적응을 측정하는 척도로 구성된 설문을 실시하였고, 응답자료 최종 300개를 분석에 사용하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS와 Macro PROCESS를 사용하여 매개효과, 조절효과 그리고 조절된 매개효과를 분석하였다. 결과 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 대학생의 분리개별화가 대학생활적응에 미치는 영향에서 전문적 도움추구태도의 부분 매개효과를 확인하였다. 둘째, 전문적 도움추구태도와 대학생활적응의 관계에서 정서인식명확성의 하위요인 중 정서주의의 조절효과를 검증하였다. 셋째, 분리 개별화가 전문적 도움추구태도를 매개하여 대학생활적응으로 이어지는 경로에서 정서인식명확성의 하위요인인 정서주의의 조절된 매개효과가 나타났다. 결론 이러한 연구결과는 대학생의 대학생활적응을 높이는 요인으로 분리 개별화, 전문적 도움추구태도, 그리고 정서인식명확성의 중요성을 시사한다. 마지막으로 본 연구의 결과를 바탕으로 시사점, 의의, 그리고 제한점을 논의하였다.

Father-child physiological concordance on two timescales is differentially associated with paternal characteristics.

Conceptual work on interpersonal physiology suggests that the dynamic concordance between two person's physiological arousal may transpire on multiple timescales, and the timescale on which it unfolds may determine its psychological significance. The current study tested this hypothesis in the context of parent-child interaction by examining whether the concordance in their cardiac arousal on two timescales was differentially associated with parental characteristics. Using data from 98 fathers and their 3- to 5-year-old children during a task designed to frustrate young children, results indicated that the associations between cardiac concordance and fathers' self-reported parenting hassles emerged for the slower timescale (concordant increasing trends in arousal), whereas concordance on the faster timescale (concordant second-by-second reactivity) was associated with fathers' emotional clarity. Findings suggest that there may be multiple layers of concordant patterns in the dynamic associations between fathers' and children's cardiac arousal, which unfold on different timescales and bear different psychological significance.

Predictors of Mental Health Help-Seeking During COVID-19: Social Support, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Health Symptoms.

Little is known about factors that contribute to mental health help-seeking during disasters beyond attitudes toward counseling. The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) global pandemic dramatically impacted individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The pandemic led to significant disruptions to family routines, and evidence suggests an increase in instances of mental health symptoms, like depression and anxiety, and poor utilization of mental health services. To better understand psychological factors associated with help-seeking during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers surveyed respondents (n = 1,533 at time 1) about their mental health and help-seeking using Amazon’s MTurk platform. The results indicated that individuals with higher levels of anxiety rate their likelihood of help-seeking as higher and those who do seek psychological help report higher levels of depression. Further, those who began new treatment for behavioral health difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic reported lower social support and less clarity about how they felt (specifically, emotional clarity when upset). Implications for clinical researchers and public health are discussed.

Emotion regulation difficulties, child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and emotional eating

Child abuse is known to increase risk for emotional eating (EE) due to emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. The specific ER difficulties that mediate relationships between child sexual abuse (CSA), child physical abuse (CPA), child emotional abuse (CEA) and EE remain unknown. We examined ER difficulties (nonacceptance of emotions, lack of emotional awareness, lack of emotional clarity, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behaviors, limited access to ER strategies, and impulse control difficulties) as mediators of CSA, CPA, and CEA independently with EE. CSA and CEA related to EE via lack of emotional clarity and impulse control difficulties. CPA related to EE via impulse control difficulties. Results indicate ER difficulties that may be beneficial to address in treatment with abuse survivors reporting EE.

Meta-mood knowledge moderates the relationship between neuroticism and depression but not between neuroticism and anxiety in a sample of nonclinical adolescents

Research shows a strong link between neuroticism and internalizing psychopathology, such as depression and anxiety. However, it is unclear to what extent meta-mood knowledge (i.e., attention to emotion and emotional clarity) plays a role as a moderator in this relationship. To investigate this, we collected data on meta-mood knowledge, personality traits, depression, and anxiety in a sample of adolescents (N = 244; 53.7% girls) aged 12 to 18 years (M = 14.6, SD = 1.7) from Catalonia, Spain. Regarding the relationship between neuroticism and depression, results showed that emotional clarity buffered this relationship. Although attention to emotion did not, the joint moderating effect of attention to emotion and emotional clarity was significant. The results on the four different combinations of attention to emotion and emotional clarity showed that the relationship between neuroticism and depression was strongest for high attention and low clarity, less strong for low attention and low clarity, and even lower for high attention and high clarity. And importantly, these similar patterns of association disappeared at low attention and high clarity. In contrast to the relationship between neuroticism and depression, we found no statistically significant moderating effects for the relationship between neuroticism and anxiety. Based on these results, we argue the importance of examining individual differences in emotion-based cognition and understanding when the benefits of emotional clarity are associated with fewer disadvantages of excessive attention. These results provide preliminary evidence that the combination of low attention and high clarity may be an adaptive version of emotional self-awareness in relation to neuroticism and depression.

The Key Role of Emotional Repair and Emotional Clarity on Depression among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Breast cancer is the malignancy with the highest incidence in women worldwide. The empirical evidence is inconsistent with the prevalence of depression among breast cancer survivors (BCS), pointing to emotional competencies as protective factors against affective disorders. However, the mechanisms through which these competencies favor a more adaptive emotional state are unknown. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between the experience of having survived the disease and depression levels in a group of BCS, and the mediating role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence (PEI) in this relation. This was a cross-sectional study with 237 women divided into two groups: 56 BCS and 181 healthy controls who completed the Trait Meta-Mood Scale 24 (TMMS-24) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results showed that Survivorship and PEI explained and predicted 37.8% of the variance of depression, corresponding the 11.7% to the direct and/or the indirect effect of the PEI dimensions (Emotional Attention, Emotional Clarity, and Emotional Repair). In conclusion, interventions aimed at promoting an adequate PEI in this population—and in the Psycho-oncology field, in general—with a particular focus on the development of Emotional Clarity and Repair need to be implemented. Limitations and future research lines are discussed.

Associations between emotion regulation and remission following cognitive behavioural therapy for adults with bulimia nervosa.

Emotion regulation (ER) deficits are associated with illness severity in individuals with bulimia nervosa. We examined whether baseline ER abilities are associated with remission following enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E). Participants (N=50, 85.0% female) receiving CBT-E completed a measure (yielding a global score and six subscale scores) of ER pre-treatment. Remission was assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination at post-treatment and follow-up. Analyses tested associations between baseline ER and behavioural, cognitive, or full remission at post-treatment and three-month follow-up. Lower global ER abilities, measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, were associated with lower likelihood of behavioural and full, but not cognitive, remission at post-treatment. Specifically, individuals low in emotional clarity and impulse control were less likely to be behaviourally remitted. Those low in emotional acceptance, awareness, clarity, or strategies to manage emotion were less likely to be fully remitted. Global ER scores were not associated with any remission type at follow-up. Baseline ER deficits were associated with lower likelihood of behavioural or full remission at post-treatment. However, ER was less associated with remission at follow-up, indicating that ER is most important during treatment. Findings highlight a need for targeted treatments aimed at improving ER.

Emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress as mechanisms of change in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for chronic depression.

The aim of this naturalistic process study was to investigate the relationship between emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress and depressive symptoms over the course of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for chronically depressed patients. Weekly self-reports of emotional clarity, tolerance of emotional distress, and depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) were provided by 252 patients with chronic depression who were admitted to a 13-week inpatient treatment program. Latent curve modeling with structured residuals (LCM-SR) was applied to investigate the between- and within-person effects of week-to-week change in emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress as predictors of subsequent depression. The relationship between emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress was also investigated. At the within-person level, higher level of emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress predicted subsequent lower level of depression. A reciprocal relationship was found for tolerance of emotional distress (lower level of depression predicted subsequent level of tolerance emotional distress) but not for emotional clarity. No within-person effect between emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress was found. The results indicate that emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress may be mechanisms of change in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for chronic depression. The results are consistent with previous findings of the importance of emotional clarity and tolerance of emotional distress in psychotherapy. This study demonstrated the utility of LCM-SR as a method to identity mechanisms of change in psychotherapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of an Emotional Education Program on Prisoners: An Experimental Study.

Emotional education has beneficial effects on physical and/or emotional health, resulting in a better quality of life. Thus, it is beneficial to provide prisoners with emotional education, because of the difficulties they often have, to attain these benefits. The aim of the study was to analyze the effects of a nursing intervention program in emotional education for incarcerated persons. Experimental study with pretest-posttest repeated measures with a control group was conducted at a penitentiary center in the southeast of Spain. Forty-eight prisoners participated in the emotional education intervention program, and another 48 were part of the control group. The emotional intelligence questionnaire 24-item Trait Meta-Mood Scale, the resilience scale Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Rathus Assertiveness Questionnaire, and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey were utilized. The intragroup, preintervention and postintervention comparisons in the study group showed improvements in self-esteem (p = 0.00, r = 0.51), resilience (p = 0.00, r = 0.42), assertiveness (p = 0.00, r = 0.46), and emotional intelligence in its dimensions of repair (p = 0.00, r = 0.32) and clarity (p = 0.02, r = 0.22) as well as in most of the quality of life dimensions. Significant intergroup differences were also found in all of these variables, except for attention and emotional clarity dimensions. The intervention improved the socioemotional health and quality of life of the prisoners, highlighting the importance of these interventions to be performed by the nursing personnel on a regular basis as a programmed activity within prisons.

Influence of Parenting on Maladaptive Schemas and Emotion Regulation in Adolescents Presenting With Self-Injurious Behavior in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

Introduction: Parenting is a key factor in development of cognitive and emotional patterns of viewing self, others, and the world. The present study aimed to explore the influence of parenting on early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and emotion regulation in individuals presenting with self-injurious behavior. Method: A total of 32 adolescents with self-injurious behavior aged 15 to 18 years participated in this cross-sectional exploratory study. Measures used were Parental Handling Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Young Schema Questionnaire—Short Form. Results: The results indicate a significant negative correlation of parental care with lack of emotional clarity ( r = −0.403, P < .05) with schema of self-punitiveness ( r = −0.179, P < .05) and a significant positive correlation with emotional inhibition ( r = 0.423, P < .05) and schema of admiration seeking ( r = 0.364, P < .05). Parental control was found to be significantly positively correlated with schemas of pessimism ( r = 0.350, P < .05) and significantly negatively correlated with admiration seeking ( r = 0.477, P < .01). Parenting was also found to be a significant predictor for emotion regulation and EMS ( P < .05). Conclusion: Parenting has a significant influence on emotional regulation and EMS. Findings have a bearing on future research and targeted interventions in clinical care settings.

Promoting educator social emotional competence, well-being, and student–educator relationships: A pilot study

Educator mental health and well-being have received increased attention in response to the additional stress experienced during the coronavirus pandemic. Cultivating mental health and well-being can be facilitated by enhancing adult social emotional competencies. However, relatively limited research has explored how prevention programs promoting social emotional competencies have enhanced educator well-being and related attributes of self-care, efficacy, and skillful interactions with students. In this pilot study, we implemented and evaluated an innovative prevention program called Resilience in Schools and Educators (RISE) in eight Colorado schools with 53 educators. RISE builds knowledge and skills that promote educator social-emotional competencies, trauma responsivity, cultural responsivity, resilience, and well-being. The first study aim was to explore the fidelity and feasibility of the RISE program implemented in a school-based context. The second study aim was to explore whether RISE is associated with increases in educators’ self-reported social emotional competencies, well-being, self-care practices, self-efficacy, and quality of interactions with students. As compared to field standards, facilitators reported high levels of fidelity and feasibility of RISE. Educators’ pre- and post- self-report measures indicate significant improvements in social emotional competencies (emotional awareness, emotional clarity, non-reactivity, nonjudging), self-care practices, well-being, and student-educator conflict, with effect sizes indicating small to medium impacts. No findings emerged for self-efficacy or perceived closeness of student-teacher relationships. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Effects of Parent Attachment on Game Utilization: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Emotional clarity, Self control and Emotion regulation

목적 본 연구는 청소년의 부모애착과 게임활용력의 관계에서 정서인식 명확성, 자기통제력, 정서조절력의 매개효과를 알아보는 것에 목적이 있다. 방법 이를 위하여 전국의 중⋅고등학생 635명을 대상으로 부모애착척도와 게임리터러시척도(게임활용력), 정서인식명확성척도, 자기통제력척도, 정서조절력척도를 활용하여 설문을 구성, 자료를 수집하였다. 통계분석은 구조방정식 모형 검증을 실시하였으며, 매개효과의 분석을 위해 Bootstrapping을 실시하였다. 결과 첫째, 부모애착은 게임활용력에 유의미한 정적 영향을 미치는 것으로 드러났다. 둘쩨, 부모애착은 정서인식명확성, 자기통제력, 정서조절력을 이중매개하여 게임활용력에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 부모애착이 게임활용력에 미치는 영향에서 정서인식명확성, 자기조절, 정서조절력이 부분이중매개하는 모형이 타당한 것으로 나타났다. 결론 본 연구는 청소년의 부모애착이 게임활용력과 관계가 있다는 것과, 정서인식명확성, 자기통제력, 정서조절력을 매개하는 경로가 있다는 것을 밝힌 데 의의가 있다. 마지막으로 연구의 제한점 및 후속 연구에 대한 제언을 기술하였다.

The Effect of Evaluative Concern Perfectionism on Interpersonal Problems in University Students: The Mediating Effects of Rejection Sensitivity and Emotional Clarity

본 연구는 대학생을 대상으로 하여 평가염려 완벽주의가 대인관계문제에 미치는 영향에 대해 거 부민감성과 정서인식명확성의 매개효과가 나타나는지 검증하였다. 국내 대학생 352명의 대학생을 대상으로 설문조사를 실시하였고 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 평가염려 완벽주의, 거부민감성, 정서인식명확성 및 대인관계문제 간의 상관분석을 실시한 결과, 주요 변인 간의 상관이 모두 유의미 하였다. 둘째, 평가염려 완벽주의와 대인관계문제의 관계에서 거부민감성과 정서인식 명확성은 모두 유의미한 부분 매개효과를 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 평가염려 완벽주의와 대인관계문제의 관계 에서 거부민감성과 정서인식 명확성의 이중매개 효과는 유의미하지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 는 평가염려 완벽주의를 가진 대학생들의 대인관계문제에 대해 도움을 제공하고자 하였다. 마지막 으로 본 연구의 제한점 및 추후 연구 과제에 대해 논의하였다.

Influence of Personal, Academic, Social, and Level of Physical Activity Variables on Emotional Intelligence.

In the diverse and complex society in which we live, the support that an appropriate emotional intelligence can provide to adolescents to achieve a satisfactory, balanced, and peaceful coexistence is increasing. The aim of this research was to determine whether personal, academic, and social variables influenced emotional intelligence in adolescent populations. A descriptive-inferential study was carried out with 964 students of compulsory secondary education (M = 14.18; SD = 1.28), applying the emotional intelligence scale Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24). The results show better emotional attention in boys who practice physical exercise and have good social skills; better emotional clarity in girls who practice physical exercise and have good social skills; and better emotional repair in girls under 13 years of age, who practice physical exercise, have a good academic record and good social skills. In conclusion, a solid and specific knowledge of the personal, academic, and social variables that may influence the development of emotional intelligence in the adolescent period allows helping students in the prevention or modification of undesirable aspects they may have in their relationships with society.

Managing emotions in psychosis: Evaluation of a brief DBT-informed skills group for individuals with psychosis in routine community services.

ObjectivesIndividuals with psychosis report that emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are treatment priorities, yet little is known about how targeted ER interventions may help. We evaluated a new eight‐session Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)–informed skills group specifically adapted for individuals with psychosis: the Managing Emotions Group (MEG) in diverse, inner‐city community services.MethodA mixed‐method design was utilised to assess the feasibility (acceptability and potential clinical impact) of local delivery of MEG. Uptake, completion (≥50% of sessions), post‐session satisfaction ratings, and thematic analysis of qualitative feedback from 12 completers assessed acceptability. Pre–post‐intervention changes in psychological distress, self‐reported ER difficulties, and adaptive ER skill use assessed potential clinical impact.ResultsForty‐eight individuals (81% of attenders) completed the intervention (M age = 43, 54% female) of whom 39 completed pre‐ and post‐group measures. Participants reported high satisfaction and meaningful improvements in understanding and managing emotions, with positive impact on daily life. Self‐reported psychological distress, ER difficulties, and adaptive ER skill use significantly improved, with medium‐to‐large pre‐post effects (d = 0.5–0.7) except lack of emotional clarity (d = 0.3).ConclusionsMEG was feasible and acceptable, and a future feasibility randomised controlled trial is warranted.Practitioner points Individuals with psychosis report that support with their emotions is a priority.Brief interventions for emotion regulation difficulties are acceptable to individuals with psychosis and can be feasibly delivered in a local outpatient service.Distress and emotion regulation difficulties and skills improved significantly from pre–post treatment for clients completing the managing emotions group.Further implementation and evaluation are needed to support continued refinement to meet the needs and priorities of individuals with psychosis.

Help them pass a stormy road: A preliminary study of emotional memory management training on executive functions and difficulties in emotional regulation in adolescents

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effect of an emotional memory management programme on executive functions and difficulties in emotional regulation in adolescents. A semi‐experimental (pretest–post‐test design with a control group) research design was used in this study. The population of this study consisted of all adolescent boys in Bushehr, southern Iran, who were studying during 2015. Initially, the eighth grade was randomly selected using the availability sampling method and considering the sample homogeneity principle. Two classes were then randomly allocated to experimental (n = 17) and control (n = 17) groups. Data were collected using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Stroop test, the Wisconsin card sorting test and the continuous performance test. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used for data analysis. The results showed that our preliminary study was influential on the different domains of difficulties in emotional regulation (impulse control difficulties, non‐acceptance of emotional responses and lack of emotional clarity), cognitive flexibility, cognitive inhibition and cognitive impulsivity. This preliminary study showed reduced difficulty in emotional regulation and improved adolescents' cognitive flexibility, inhibition and impulsivity.

Difficulties in emotion regulation in bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental disorder characterized by mood swings and functional impairment. Although alterations in emotional regulation (ER) are a key feature, a comprehensive meta-analysis on abnormalities in emotion regulation in BD is still lacking. MethodsWe performed a random-effects meta-analysis on studies comparing the ER measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) in BD and healthy controls (HC) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) and calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) of the total DERS score between those with BD and HC (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes were the SMD of the DERS subscales between BD and HC, as well as the SMD of the total score of DERS and the subscales between BD and BPD. ResultsTwelve studies (858 BD, 540 BPD, 285 HC) were included. Compared to HC, BD showed significantly higher total DERS score (k=8, SMD 0.962, p<0.001) and subscale scores, including non-acceptance (k=6, SMD=0.85, p<0.001), goal-directed behavior (k=6, SMD=0.894, p<0.001), impulse control (k=6, SMD=1.08, p<0.001), strategies (k=6, SMD=1.25, p<0.001) and emotional clarity (k=6, SMD=0.694, p=0.001). Relative to BPD, BD presented significantly lower scores in all the DERS subscales. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the main analyses. The age of the participants and sample size moderated the primary outcome. LimitationsThe small number of studies and the cross-sectional design limit the generalizability of the results. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that alterations of specific ER abilities are present in BD and their magnitude is smaller relative to BPD. Future therapeutic interventions should target ER strategies.

Anxiety and Depression: The Moderating Effects of Attention to Emotion and Emotional Clarity.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. They often occur together and significantly affect well-being and daily functioning. However, it is unclear to what extent the two dimensions of meta-mood knowledge play a role in their comorbidity. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the role of attention to emotion and emotional clarity in the relationship between anxiety and depression. A sample of 256 adults aged 32-66years (M = 46.21, SD = 5.53; 82.03% women) completed questionnaires on anxiety, depression, and meta-mood knowledge. Results showed that emotional clarity buffered the relationship between anxiety and depression. In addition, all combinations of attention to emotion and emotional clarity showed a significant and positive relationship with anxiety and depression symptom severity, with one exception. Interestingly, there was no statistically significant relationship between anxiety and depression when attention to emotion was low and emotional clarity was high. This last condition was interpreted as beneficial rather than detrimental, which in turn could help promote psychological resilience to better cope with emotional difficulties. Given these findings, this study highlights the role of attention to emotion and emotional clarity in assessing anxiety and risk of comorbid depression.

Which emotion-regulation strategies explain the relationship between dispositional mindfulness, self-compassion, and eating to cope?

Eating in response or to cope with negative emotions has been shown to be problematic in undergraduate students. Dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion have been associated with less eating in response or to cope with negative emotions; however, specific mechanisms underlying these relationships have never been tested. The aim of the present study is to test whether lower levels of specific difficulties in emotion-regulation (i.e., non-acceptance of emotional responses, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional awareness, limited access to emotion-regulation strategies, lack of emotional clarity) explain the negative relationship between dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion with eating to cope. Undergraduate students (N = 307) aged 18 to 24 (M = 20.28) completed online self-report measures. Dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion were associated with lower levels of non-acceptance of emotional responses, which in turn was associated with less eating to cope. Dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion were also associated with lower levels of difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour; however, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour was unexpectedly associated with less eating to cope. To note, dispositional mindfulness was not associated with eating to cope when holding self-compassion constant. Results suggest that specific difficulties in emotion-regulation may explain the negative relationship between dispositional mindfulness and self-compassion with eating to cope. Findings contribute to theoretical models, and with replication can be used to inform the development of randomized-control trials examining the efficacy of mindfulness and self-compassion-based training for eating to cope in undergraduate students.