Lack Of Emotional Clarity Research Articles

Emotion regulation strategies as moderators of the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety

BackgroundAnxiety commonly occurs after experiencing negative life events. However, the role of emotion regulation strategies in moderating the relationship between negative life events and anxiety remains unclear. The current study 1) examines the associations between emotion regulation strategies and trait anxiety, and 2) explores whether the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety is moderated by emotion regulation strategies, in particular, adaptative strategies such as cognitive reappraisal. MethodsWe used data from 1384 adolescents and young adults (ages 12–27) who completed measures of negative life events, emotion regulation strategies, and trait anxiety. Emotion regulation was measured using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form. ResultsMultiple regression analyses showed that limited access to emotion regulation strategies, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior, lack of emotional awareness, lack of emotional clarity, nonacceptance of emotional responses, and use of cognitive reappraisal were associated with trait anxiety. Additionally, the positive association between negative life events and trait anxiety was moderated by difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior and use of cognitive reappraisal. Sex differences were apparent for difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior. Age-based analyses revealed that these interactions were specific to young adults. LimitationsLimitations include a cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures. ConclusionsLess use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was associated with greater trait anxiety. Further, the relationship between negative life events and trait anxiety in young adults may depend on one's ability to engage in goal-directed behavior and use cognitive reappraisal.

Emotional Clarity and Psychopathology in Women Who Have Experienced Physical Intimate Partner Violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a chronic, traumatic stressor related to posttraumatic stress (PTS), depression, and anxiety. As psychological symptoms are exacerbated in those with poor emotional clarity, the present study evaluates the relationship between emotional clarity and PTS, dissociation, depression, and worry in women who experienced at least one instance of physical IPV (n = 88). Hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for childhood trauma, IPV abuse severity, and IPV-related brain injury, found that lack of emotional clarity was significantly related to greater PTS, dissociative experiences, depression, and worry. Results suggest that emotional clarity may be a relevant therapeutic target for individuals with a history of IPV and psychological distress.

Difficulties in emotional regulation in a Tunisian university setting

IntroductionEmotion regulation is the conscious or automatic control of emotions to adapt, cope, and maintain well-being. Effective emotion regulation is central to mental health, impacting work, and relationships. University students, facing academic pressures and social transitions, represent a unique demographic where emotion regulation challenges are particularly relevant.ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the emotion regulation difficulties in university students.MethodsA descriptive study was led from August to September 2023. An online questionnaire was distributed to a population of Tunisian university students. We administered a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Arabic version of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale short form (DRES-SF), a self-report measure developed to assess clinically relevant difficulties in emotion regulation.Results Participants in this study consisted of 307 undergraduate students, with 78.1% being women and 21.9% men, representing various academic disciplines at Tunis el Manar University in Tunisia. The mean age of the participants was 22 years, with a standard deviation of 2.84.In the assessment of emotional regulation difficulties, participants reported a mean total score of 42.47 ± 12.68. Participants who repeated years in college had more difficulties in emotional regulation (p<0.05). Limited access to emotion regulation strategies had a mean score of 7.64 ± 3.0, while nonacceptance of emotional responses was rated at 7.40 ± 3.17. Additionally, impulse control difficulties were reported with a mean score of 6.46 ± 3.31, and difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior were observed with a mean score of 9.44 ± 3.18. Moreover, participants expressed a lack of emotional awareness, which was quantified with a mean score of 8.45 ± 2.69, and a lack of emotional clarity, which yielded a mean score of 7.12 ± 2.69. Additionally, a significant association was noted between gender (p < 0.05), age (p < 0.05), and the lack of emotional awareness, suggesting potential gender and age-related variations in emotional regulation difficulties within this university sample.ConclusionsOverall, these findings suggest the necessity of emotion regulation training in the university setting. Further studies are important to understand the impact of emotional regulation difficulties.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Emotional non‐acceptance mediates the relationship between insecure attachment and specific psychopathology in women with eating disorders

IntroductionInsecure attachment is considered a general risk factor for eating disorders (ED). Emotion dysregulation has been proposed as one of the possible mechanisms by which attachment insecurity may affect ED psychopathology.ObjectivesAim of the present study was to investigate whether difficulties in acceptance of emotions or emotional clarity may mediate the connection between insecure attachment and ED psychopathology.MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients participated and completed the Italian version of Eating Disorder Inventory‐2 (EDI-2), Experience in Close Relationship questionnaire (ECR) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). A mediator path model was performed, in which insecure attachment dimensions were set as independent variables, ED specific psychopathology measures as dependent variables, and non‐acceptance of emotion and lack of emotional clarity as mediators.ResultsThe association between both attachment avoidance and anxiety and ED specific symptoms was mediated by emotional non‐acceptance, but not by emotional clarity.ConclusionsThis study showed the importance to address emotion regulation in individuals with ED, focussing on improving emotional acceptance. Exploring early developmental processes which lead to non‐acceptance of emotions could improve this psychological trait in people with ED.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Difficulties in emotion regulation and well-being in breast cancer

ABSTRACT Objective: Breast cancer is responsible for disruptive changes in women’s lives, causing them to experience diverse and intense negative emotions that can affect their perception of well-being. The present study aimed to characterize difficulties in emotion regulation (ER), according to Gratz and Roemer’s multidimensional assessment, in women with breast cancer and to relate them with General Well-Being and its different domains: Physical, Social/Familial, Emotional, and Functional. Method: Ninety-five Portuguese women with breast cancer aged between 32 and 75 years answered a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and the Portuguese versions of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General. Data were collected in an oncology public hospital. Results: In general, difficulties in ER presented negative correlations with General Well-Being and its domains. The multiple regression analysis findings indicated that two specific types of difficulties, Limited Access to ER Strategies and Lack of Emotional Clarity, play a significant role in predicting well-being, especially in the Emotional domain, which was most compromised in these patients. Conclusions: These difficulties should be approached within psycho-oncological interventions as they are essential contributors to improving emotional and general well-being and fostering psychological adaptation to breast cancer.

Subjective and Autonomic Arousal toward Emotional Stimuli in Preadolescents with Externalizing Problems and the Role of Explicit and Implicit Emotion Regulation.

Children and adolescents with externalizing problems show physiological hypo-reactivity toward affective stimuli, which may relate to their disruptive, antisocial, and thrill-seeking behaviors. This study examines differences in explicit and implicit emotion regulation between preadolescents with and without externalizing problems as well as the role of emotion regulation in subjective and autonomic responses to emotional stimuli. Preadolescents showing self- and other-reported externalizing psychopathology, and a control sample, without such difficulties, participated in a passive affective picture-viewing task with neutral, fearful, joyful, and sad images, while their heart rate and heart rate variability were measured. Participants also reported on their emotion regulation difficulties using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Compared to controls, youths scoring high on externalizing problems (1) reported greater emotion regulation difficulties, especially a lack of emotional clarity and difficulty in controlling impulsive actions, (2) showed higher resting heart rate variability and a lower resting heart rate, suggestive of higher emotion/autonomic regulation ability, and (3) showed both subjective and physiological hypo-arousal to emotional pictures. Heart rate variability and, to a lesser degree difficulties in emotional clarity, modulated the effects of emotional pictures on subjective and physiological arousal. Findings suggest that interventions to improve emotion regulation and awareness may help to prevent externalizing problems.

Liens entre les compétences émotionnelles, les difficultés de régulation émotionnelle et la qualité de vie professionnelle des psychologues médico-légaux francophones

ObjectivesDespite being less recognized as a specific subdomain of Psychology in French-speaking countries, forensic psychologists do face the same challenges as their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. Among these, the literature identifies the quality of life in the workplace, which can be divided into Compassion Satisfaction, and Compassion Fatigue, the latter being composed of Burn-out and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Previous research has acknowledged the role of emotional competence, especially the management of emotions, as a central factor of healthcare professionals’ relationship with their work assignments. However, Pirelli and collaborators recently highlighted the lack of empirical research among forensic psychologists. As an answer to their call, this study investigates the association and predictive factors of emotional competence, difficulties in emotional management, and the quality of professional life. Materials and methodsAn online survey (Lime Survey) was used to collect data regarding socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, years of experience, and training. The following self-questionnaires were then given to the subjects: Profile of Emotional Competence, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Professional Quality of Life. Descriptive, correlational, and regressive analyses were undertaken to, respectively: (1) describe our sample and compare it to available norms (Student's t), (2) associate (Bravais-Pearson r) the mean scores of the three scales, and (3) evaluate the prediction (simple and multiple linear regression) of emotional competence and emotional dysfunction on the quality of professional life. These predictions were then reversed. Both regression analyses used the backward method. ResultsThe sample was composed of 44 French-speaking forensic psychologists (79.50% female), median age 34.20 (SD=7.96). They were mainly trained in clinical psychology (84.10%), followed by forensic psychology (18.20%). The majority of the sample worked as carceral psychologists (59.10%), and their main missions were support and guidance (78.70%), followed by recidivism risk assessment (52.30%) and crisis management (50.00 %). Descriptive results. The participants exhibited significantly higher emotional dysfunction scores (total score, p ≤ .001; Lack of Emotional Clarity, p=.10; Impulse Control Difficulties,p ≤ .001; Difficulties Engaging in Goal-Directed Behavior,p ≤ .001) when compared to available norms. Regarding their perceived quality of life, all scores were either significantly lower or higher based on the norms used. A similar analysis was not possible for emotional competence as available norms were gender-specific, and the sample gender distribution was clearly unbalanced. Associations and regression relations were confirmed between emotional competence, emotional dysfunction, and the quality of professional life, especially between Compassion Satisfaction and emotional competence (r=.33–.56) on the one hand and between Burn-out and emotional dysfunction on the other hand (r=.41–.65). Unexpectedly, Secondary Traumatic Stress was only predicted by emotional dysfunction (Impulse Control Difficulties, β=.39, t=2.71, R2=.13, p=.010). ConclusionsTaken as a whole, the results indicate that (a) Compassion Satisfaction and Burn-out are key elements to assess in the workplace, confirming previous studies among other health professionals, and (b) although correlated to specific emotional dysfunction such as Difficulties Engaging in Goal-Directed Behaviors and Impulse Control Difficulties, none of these factors predict nor is predicted by Secondary Traumatic Stress.

The relationship between difficulties in the regulation of positive and negative emotions and binge-eating symptoms in young adults

It is well-established that binge-eating (BE) is linked to emotion regulation (ER) difficulties. However, research to date has focused almost exclusively on difficulties regulating negative emotions, with little attention to the relationship between positive emotion dysregulation and BE. Further, research is inconclusive regarding which specific facets of ER difficulties are most strongly associated with BE behaviour. Therefore, the current study examined whether difficulties regulating both negative as well as positive emotions explained unique variance in BE among young adults. The study also aimed to identify which particular dimensions of negative and positive ER difficulties were most strongly related to BE symptoms. Participants (N = 449) ages 18–25 completed self-report measures of difficulties regulating positive and negative emotions, BE symptoms, and psychological distress. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that BE was related to difficulties regulating both positive emotions and negative emotions, after controlling for psychological distress and BMI. Lack of emotional clarity and lack of access to ER strategies when faced with strong negative emotions were the facets of negative ER difficulties most strongly associated with BE. Impulsivity when experiencing strong positive emotions was the facet of positive ER difficulties most strongly associated with BE. These findings support the ER model of BE and suggest that difficulties regulating both positive and negative emotions contribute to BE among young adults.

Pretreatment characteristics associated with symptom reduction during group cognitive processing therapy versus exposure therapy for PTSD: an exploratory study of Veterans

ABSTRACT Exposure and cognitive-based therapies are both effective for PTSD, but knowledge of which intervention is best for which patient is lacking. This lack of knowledge is particularly noticeable for group treatments, as no study has examined whether responses to different group therapies are associated with different pretreatment characteristics. Here, we explored whether pretreatment levels of three types of psychological characteristics—PTSD symptom clusters, posttraumatic cognitions, and emotion regulation difficulties—were associated with symptom reduction during group-delivered cognitive versus exposure-based PTSD treatment. Participants were Veterans with PTSD drawn from two previous clinical trials: one of group CPT (GCPT; n = 32) and the other of group-based exposure therapy (GBET; n = 21). Growth curve modeling was used to identify pretreatment variables that predicted weekly PTSD symptom changes during each therapy. Higher posttraumatic cognitions at pretreatment predicted steeper PTSD symptom reduction during GCPT but not GBET. Additionally, symptom reduction during each therapy was associated with different pretreatment emotion regulation difficulties: difficulties with goal-directed behavior for GBET and lack of emotional clarity and limited access to emotion regulation strategies for GCPT. These findings suggest that assigning Veterans to a group PTSD therapy that better matches their pretreatment psychological profile might facilitate a better therapeutic response.

Incorporating macro-social contexts into emotion research: Longitudinal associations between structural stigma and emotion processes among gay and bisexual men.

Research into correlates and predictors of emotion regulation has focused almost exclusively on individual differences and the immediate situation. Here, we consider whether features of macro-social contexts may also shape emotion regulation. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a longitudinal study of 502 gay and bisexual men living in 269 U.S. counties that varied in the level of stigma surrounding sexual minorities. We find that gay and bisexual men living in higher- (vs. lower-) stigma counties consistently reported more suppression, which consequently explained longitudinal increases (vs. decreases) in their lack of emotional clarity over 24 months. Results were robust to demographic characteristics, stigma at the interpersonal level (i.e., sexual orientation-related discrimination), and another form of social inequality (i.e., county-level income inequality). These findings suggest that broadening the lens of emotion regulation research to include characteristics of the macro-social environment may yield new insights into determinants of emotion regulation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Childhood Maltreatment History and Borderline Personality Symptoms: The Role of Mentalization Difficulties Among Vulnerable Women.

Mentalization difficulties may be one reason why individuals who experienced childhood maltreatment (CM) are at increased risk for borderline personality (BP) symptoms. The goal of this study was to identify specific aspects of mentalization associated with CM and determine their role in the short-term course of BP symptoms. A total of 253 mothers with a previous mental health diagnosis completed online surveys at three times over 9 months. A cross-lag panel model was tested to estimate reciprocal effects between mentalization measures and BP symptoms and indirect effects from CM to mentalization to BP symptoms. At baseline, women with more CM endorsed more difficulty with general mentalization, emotional clarity, and reflecting on childhood experiences. Lack of emotional clarity and disorganized responding about childhood served as indirect paths from CM to subsequent BP symptoms and showed bidirectional associations with BP symptoms over time. Thus, these may be particularly important treatment targets in this population.

Emotional regulation and body dissatisfaction: the mediating role of anger in young adult women.

Emotion regulation difficulties have an important role in the presence of negative self-image. These problems in the self-regulation of emotion could lead to negative emotional processes (such as anger) that can lead to body dissatisfaction. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine emotion regulation difficulties than can negatively impact self-image and to understand if anger acts as mediator in the relationship between emotion regulation and body dissatisfaction. A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 565 young adult women aged 18-30 years. The participants were administered the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2 (STAXI-2), and the Body Dissatisfaction dimension of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2). The proposed hypotheses were tested by path analysis in MPlus 8.0. The results indicated that anger had a positive significant effect on body dissatisfaction as well as the non-acceptance of emotional responses, the lack of emotional awareness, and the lack of emotional clarity. Of all the dimensions of emotional regulation difficulties, impulse control difficulty was the dimension which had a positive significant indirect effect on body dissatisfaction explained by increased anger. The present study suggests the importance of emotion regulation in the prevention of body dissatisfaction. Impulse control difficulty may be the key emotion regulation emotion in explaining the increments of anger that lead to body dissatisfaction. Among young adults, the promotion of positive body image can be promoted by helping this population to self-regulate their anger impulses.

Does emotion regulation in adolescents in residential care mitigate the association between sexual victimization and poor psychological well-being?

BackgroundChildhood sexual abuse/assault has been linked to mental health problems that affect an individual's psychological well-being. This study explores the facets of emotional regulation as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care in Eastern Spain. Furthermore, it examines the role of sex assigned at birth and being unaccompanied asylum seeker children as possible moderators of the mediation model. MethodsA total of 346 adolescents (34.1% girls, 65.9% boys) aged between 11 and 19 years old completed a battery of instruments. Parallel multiple mediation paths were tested to determine whether sexual victimization is associated to psychological well-being across emotional regulation dimensions. Moderated mediation models with sex assigned at birth and the condition of unaccompanied asylum seeker children were tested too. ResultsThis study demonstrates that high sexual victimization is associated with poor psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care through the lack of emotional clarity, non-acceptance of emotional responses, and limited access to emotional regulation strategies (β = −0.6, 95%CI = −1.26, −0.09; β = −0.38, 95%CI = −0.9, 0.002; β = −0.39, 95%CI = −0.93, −0.03, respectively). In addition, the latter indirect effect pathway was significantly moderated by the condition of being unaccompanied asylum seeker children (β = 1.46, 95%CI = 0.28, 2.84). Sex assigned at birth was not shown to be a significant moderator. ConclusionsIdentifying which mechanisms of emotional regulation mediate the relationship between sexual victimization and psychological well-being in adolescents in residential care may contribute not only to reducing the psychological distress of these adolescents but also to improving the effectiveness and efficacy of the child welfare system.

Latent profiles of emotion dysregulation among individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders: Associations with eating disorder pathology.

Emotion dysregulation (i.e., a multi-component term comprising nonacceptance of emotional responses, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behaviour, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional awareness, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and lack of emotional clarity) is a well-established transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factor for eating disorders. To date, there is limited information on how varying scores on subdomains of emotion dysregulation may yield distinct profiles in individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders (B-EDs), and how these emotion dysregulation profiles may inform resultant symptomatology. In the current study, treatment-seeking individuals with B-EDs (n=315) completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Eating Disorder Examination. Latent profile analysis was conducted on the six subscales of the DERS. Identified latent profiles were examined as predictors of eating disorder pathology using linear regression, and a two-class model of emotion dysregulation fit the data. Class 1 (n=113) was low in all of the DERS subscales, while Class 2 (n=202) was high in all of the DERS subscales. Individuals in Class 2 had a significantly higher frequency of compensatory behaviours in the past month (F(1,313)=12.97, p<0.001), and significantly higher restraint scores (F(1,313)=17.86, p<0.001). The classes also significantly differed in terms ofeating concern (F(1,313)=20.89, p<0.001) and shape concern (F(1,313)=4.59, p=0.03), with both being higher for Class 2. We found only two distinct classes of emotion dysregulation in B-ED's such that individuals were simply high or low in emotion dysregulation. These results suggest that it may be more valuable for future research to evaluate emotion dysregulation as a cohesive whole rather than conceptualising the construct as having truly distinct subdomains.

Emotion dysregulation in relation to cannabis use and mental health among young adults

BackgroundEmotion dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic variable that accounts for the onset and maintenance of mental health disorders. The interplay between ED, cannabis use and mental health has not been appraised in the young adult population and whether there are sex-dependent effects has yet to be examined. This study looked at whether ED mediates the association between past-month cannabis use and mental health, while considering sex as a moderator. Methods2,762 (64.2% women) undergraduate Spanish students completed an online battery. Among others, they fulfilled the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-28). A two-way ANOVA assessed the effects of sex and past-month cannabis use on participants’ DASS-21 scores. A set of moderated mediations tested whether the indirect effect of past-month cannabis use on DASS-21 through DERS differed by sex. ResultsPast-month cannabis female users showed higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress (M = 51.10, SD = 26.72) than did men [(M = 33.76, SD = 20.31); F(1, 2758) = 5.119, p =.024, η2p =.002]. In female young adults only, the effect of past-month cannabis use on mental health was mediated by ED (total score), non-acceptance of emotional responses, lack of emotional control, difficulties in engaging in goal-directed behavior, and lack of emotional clarity (all p’s < 0.005) ConclusionsFindings indicate the importance of considering ED in assessment and intervention practices. Interventions targeting ED may be particularly effective for female young adult cannabis users.

Emotional non-acceptance mediates the relationship between insecure attachment and specific psychopathology in women with eating disorders.

Insecure attachment is considered a general risk factor for eating disorders (ED). Emotion dysregulation has been proposed as one of the possible mechanisms by which attachment insecurity may affect ED psychopathology. Aim of the present study was to investigate whether difficulties in acceptance of emotions or emotional clarity may mediate the connection between insecure attachment and ED psychopathology. One hundred and twenty patients participated and completed the Italian version of Eating Disorder Inventory-2, Experience in Close Relationship questionnaire and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. A mediator path model was performed, in which insecure attachment dimensions were set as independent variables, ED specific psychopathology measures as dependent variables, and non-acceptance of emotion and lack of emotional clarity as mediators. The association between both attachment avoidance and anxiety and ED specific symptoms was mediated by emotional non-acceptance, but not by emotional clarity. This study showed the importance to address emotion regulation in individuals with ED, focussing on improving emotional acceptance. Exploring early developmental processes which lead to non-acceptance of emotions could improve this psychological trait in people with ED.

대학생의 코로나 19(COVID-19) 스트레스가 우울에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine relations betweeen COVID-19 stress and depression, and examine the mediating effects of difficulties of emotion regulation among the undergraduate students. Methods Subjects were 426 undergraduate students who agreed to participate. For descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson analysis, and regression analysis by Baron &amp; Kenny(1986) methods were performed using the IBM SPSS 21.0 program. Results First, it was found that COVID-19 stress and difficulties of emotion regulation showed a negative correlation with depression. In particular, among the sub-variables of COVID-19 stress, it was confirmed that fear of infection and difficulties due to distancing had a statistically significant effect on depression. Second, among the sub-variables of emotional control difficulty, lack of emotional attention/awareness, lack of emotional clarity, and limited access to emotion regulation strategies were found to have a statistically significant effect on depression. Third, it was confirmed that difficulties in emotion regulation partially mediating role in the relations between COVID-19 stress and depression. Conclusions Results of this study will be useful as basic data to understand the COVID-19 stress, difficulties of emotion regulation, depression among undergraduate students and to develop education program and help and support measures for clients.

Facets of emotion dysregulation differentially predict depression and PTSD symptom severity following traumatic injury

ABSTRACT Background: Emotion dysregulation is a hallmark characteristic of psychopathology following trauma. Yet, emotion dysregulation is multifaceted, and little is known about which aspects of emotion dysregulation predict depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity following traumatic injury. Objective: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate how facets of dysregulation differentially predicted the severity of PTSD symptom clusters and depressive symptoms six months after a traumatic injury requiring medical treatment. Methods: Traumatically injured adults (N = 99) presenting to a Level 1 trauma centre completed a measure of emotion dysregulation 2 weeks post-injury, and PTSD and depression were assessed at 2-weeks and 6 months later. Results: Using stepwise regressions controlling for baseline symptoms, age, gender, race, and injury severity, results showed baseline emotion dysregulation significantly predicted the four symptom clusters of PTSD 6 months post-injury. Notably, hyperarousal symptoms and negative alterations in mood and cognition were predicted by a lack of clarity. On the other hand, depressive symptoms were significantly predicted by difficulty accessing emotion regulation strategies. Conclusion: Results highlight that specific facets of emotion dysregulation predict PTSD and depression symptom severity differentially after injury. Indeed, lack of emotional clarity appears to predict PTSD symptomatology, suggesting a potential mechanism driving worsening symptoms. Lack of clarity could also be detrimental to engagement in PTSD treatment. Conversely, lack of regulation strategies may represent a sense of helplessness in managing depression after trauma. As such, future research should elucidate whether interventions targeting aspects of emotion dysregulation based on symptom presentations are useful in treating PTSD and depression following injury.

Emotion dysregulation in migraine patients: can it be a hallmark the probability of the transformation from episodİc to chronic?

ABSTRACT Objective The main aim of this study was to examine patients with migraine in terms of emotional dysregulation and to evaluate whether the emotion dysregulation is effective on chronicity in migraine. Materials and Methods A total of 85 migraine patients and 61 healthy participants were included in this study. All participants were evaluated using Migraine Disability Scale (MIDAS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and the Discomfort Intolerance Scale (DIS). Then, all results were compared between the migraine patients and healthy individuals. In addition, the migraine patients were separated into three groups as patients without an aura, patients with an aura and patients with chronic migraine and then their results were compared among them. Finally, the predictive markers of chronic migraine were explored using regression analyses. Results Among 85 migraine patients, the mean age was 31.5 (SD = 7.98); 83.5% were women. The total and subscale scores of DERS, PCS, DIS, and DASS-21 were significantly higher in patients than in healthy individuals (p < 0.01). Subscale scores of DERS, DIS, and DASS-21 in the chronic migraine patients were found to be higher than in the other two patient groups (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that chronic migraine could be associated with ‘lack of emotional clarity’ (OR = 1.229; p = 0.042), ‘lack of awareness’ (OR = 1.187; p = 0.032), ‘migraine associated disability’ (OR = 1.128; p = 0.033), and ‘stress’ (OR = 1.292; p = 0.027). Conclusion This study results showed that chronic migraine could be associated with the emotional dysregulation. To our knowledge, this study is the preliminary study in the literature and, therefore, new studies with large samples are needed.

A longitudinal approach to understanding boredom during pandemics: The predictive roles of trauma and emotion dysregulation.

Research during the COVID-19 pandemic and prior outbreaks suggest that boredom is linked to poor compliance with critical lifesaving social distancing and quarantine guidelines, as well as to numerous mental health difficulties. As such, continued understanding on what contributes to boredom is imperative. Extending beyond the roles of constraint, monotony, and trait dispositions (e.g., individual differences in boredom propensity), and informed by prior theories on the emotional contributors of boredom, the current longitudinal study examined the predictive role of "pandemic trauma" on people's boredom, with a focus on how emotion dysregulation mediates this relationship. Community participants (N = 345) completed questionnaires three times across an average of 3 1/2 weeks, rating their pandemic trauma, emotion dysregulation, and boredom over the past week each time. Pandemic trauma was assessed with items querying exposure to coronavirus, as well as the financial, resource-related, and interpersonal pandemic stressors that participants experienced. Emotion dysregulation was assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Boredom was assessed with the short-form Multidimensional State Boredom Scale. The results of a theory-informed mediation model showed that participants' pandemic trauma at Time 1 positively and modestly predicted their boredom at Time 3 and that this relationship was partially and moderately mediated by participants' lack of emotional clarity and difficulties with engaging in goal-directed behaviors at Time 2. When people experience pandemic-related trauma, they subsequently struggle to understand their feelings and engage in goal-oriented actions, and, in turn, feel more bored. Theoretical and clinical implications as related to the emotional underpinnings of boredom are discussed.