Levels Of Emotional Reactivity Research Articles

Attuned to the Flux of Life: Relations Between Ability Emotional Intelligence and Emotional Reactivity.

The field of ability-related emotional intelligence (ability EI) could benefit from new perspectives concerning dynamic operations. According to a recent perspective, variations in ability EI are likely to be linked to variations in skills related to evaluation. This perspective contends, perhaps counterintuitively, that higher levels of ability EI are likely to be linked to higher levels of emotional reactivity, defined in terms of stronger event-emotion relationships. Two studies (total N = 245) pursue such ideas in the context of multilevel models involving event valence and emotional experience. Variations in ability EI modulated event-emotion relationships in the context of laboratory inductions involving hypothetical events (Study 1), affective images varying in valence (Study 1), and with respect to naturally occurring variations in positive and negative daily events (Study 2), such that higher levels of ability EI were linked to stronger event-emotion relationships, regardless of whether events and emotions were positive or negative in valence. These results provide new evidence for recent theorizing concerning ability EI while speaking to functional versus dysfunctional perspectives on emotional reactivity.

Vocabulary size predicts behavioral problems in emotionally reactive children

Internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems place children at an increased risk for low academic achievement and socioemotional maladjustment. Children's language skills and level of emotional reactivity have been shown to predict behavioral problems later in development. Yet, there is an absence of research investigating vocabulary by negative emotionality interactions with respect to the development of behavioral problems during early childhood. Our study sought to fill this gap by examining whether the relation between preschool (age 3) vocabulary size and internalizing/externalizing problems during the early school years (age 6) is moderated by preschool negative emotional reactivity, even after controlling for preschool behavioral problems as well as children's socioeconomic background. Longitudinal data was collected from 256 typically developing children (129 girls, 75% White) and their mothers (64% held a college degree). Linear regression analyses revealed moderate rank-order stability in children's internalizing and externalizing problems across this period of development. Evidence of an interaction effect emerged in both the internalizing and externalizing problems regression models. That is, age 3 vocabulary was negatively related to age 6 behavioral problems, but only among children exhibiting higher levels of negative emotional reactivity. Our results indicate that early vocabulary acquisition may serve as a buffer against adverse behavioral outcomes in children with a natural propensity toward expressing negative emotions. These findings point to a more nuanced picture of the relations between language, emotional reactivity, and behavioral problems in childhood, which are discussed in greater detail to inform future intervention and educational research.

The Relationships Between Emotional Reactivity and Psychological Adaptation Skills: A Study on Elite Level Athletes

In this study, it is aimed to examine the relationship between emotional reactivity, depression, anxiety and stress in elite athletes, considering that psychological qualities such as emotional reactivity and anxiety observed in athletes due to the heavy preparation conditions inherent in sports and the recent breaks in sports may increase the risk of psycho-social disorders. In this descriptive study, the relational survey model was used. The study group of the research consisted of a total of 209 elite level athletes, 59 women and 150 men, in different branches. As a data collection tool; “Emotional Responsiveness Scale” and “Turkish Short Form of Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass 21)” were used. As a result of the study, there were significant differences between the emotional reactivity and depression, anxiety, and stress levels of the athletes involved in team sports compared to the athletes involved in individual sports, according to the sports branch. However, it has been determined that there is a positive and highly significant relationship between the emotional reactivity of the athletes and their depression, anxiety, and stress levels. As a result, considering the strong relationship between emotional reactivity and psychological adjustment skills, it is important to take protective measures in both social and professional lives of athletes for this concept, as an increase in the level of emotional reactivity may have positive relations with some psychological adjustment skills.Keywords: Anxiety, Depression, Elite Athlete, Emotional Reactivity, Stress

The presence of a mother counteracts prenatal stress in a precocial bird

In many species, prenatal maternal stress leads to long-lasting changes in physiological and behavioural individual characteristics. However, these prenatal effects can be modulated by the postnatal environment and especially by maternal care. The impact of maternal care on the modulation of prenatal maternal stress effects has been investigated mainly in mammalian models but, surprisingly, remains little explored in avian species. In this study, we determined the extent to which the subsequent effects of prenatal maternal stress on offspring growth and emotional responses are modulated by the presence of an adoptive mother during postnatal development using a precocial bird, the Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica , as our study species. All experimental quail chicks were the offspring of females that experienced an environmental stressor induced by a socially unstable environment during laying and egg production. Previous reports showed that social instability of laying quail increased their offspring's emotional reactivity and that this was related to an increase in yolk testosterone levels in their eggs. In this study, offspring hatched from socially unstable females were raised either with or without adoptive mothers. We found that mothered chicks were lighter during their first 3 weeks of age and that their emotional reactivity was lower (i.e. as shown by increased exploratory behaviours in a novel environment, decreased neophobic responses in the home cage and decreased responses to social separation) relative to nonmothered chicks. Thus, our results highlight that maternal care could counteract the phenotypic consequences of prenatally stress-exposed birds. Our results clearly highlight that even in precocial species the presence of the mother has a fundamental importance in modulating the effects of prenatal conditions on the ontogeny of offspring behaviour and that this might be a key mechanism driving phenotypic plasticity in wild populations. • Maternal care in Japanese quail counteracts prenatal stress effects. • Mothered chicks have a lower level of emotional reactivity than nonmothered ones. • Maternal care's influences are similar in mammals and birds.

The developmental consequences of early adverse care on infant macaques: A cross-fostering study

Early life adversity/stress (ELA/ELS), particularly adverse caregiving experiences such as child maltreatment (MALT), is a main risk factor for psychopathology, including psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and substance abuse. Yet how these alterations unfold during development and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, as it is difficult to prospectively and longitudinally study early developmental phases in humans, and nearly impossible to disentangle postnatal caregiving effects from heritable traits. This study examined the specific effects of “nurture” (maternal care) versus “nature” (heritable, biological maternal factors) on nonhuman primate infant socioemotional, stress neuroendocrine, and physical development. For this we used a translational and naturalistic macaque model of infant maltreatment by the mother with randomized assignment at birth to either mothers with a history of maltreating their infants (MALT group, n = 22) or to competent mothers (Control group, n = 20). Over the first 6 months of life (roughly equivalent to 2 years in humans), we examined the development of the mother-infant relationship, as well as infants’ social behavior and emotional reactivity. In parallel, we assessed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function longitudinally, using measures of hair cortisol accumulation, and basal morning plasma cortisol. We identified broad impairments in maternal care exhibited by MALT foster mothers, beyond maltreatment (physical abuse, rejection) events, suggesting that MALT foster mothers provide an overall lower quality of care to their infants compared to Controls. MALT infants exhibited alterations in their initiations and breaks of proximity towards their mothers, as well as heightened emotional reactivity in comparison to Controls. Most striking are the HPA axis findings, with MALT infants showing higher levels of plasma cortisol across the first 6 postnatal months as well as higher hair cortisol accumulation from birth through month 6 (a signature of chronic stress) than Controls. No caregiving effects were detected on physical growth, which ruled out confounding effects of maternal nutrition, metabolism, etc. Taken together, these results suggest that the developmental trajectory of MALT and Control infants is different, marked by heightened levels of emotional reactivity, increased HPA activity and alterations in mother-infant interactions in MALT animals. These findings appear to be due to specific effects of postnatal maternal care, and not to biological/ behavioral traits inherited from the mother, or due to prenatal programming caused by prenatal stress, as the cross-fostering design controlled for these potential factors. However, we also detected a couple of interesting biological effects suggesting heritable transmission of some phenotypes. The prolonged HPA axis activation during the first 6 postnatal months of life is expected to have long-term consequences for brain, physiological, and behavioral development in MALT offspring.

Measuring Differentiation of Self to Evaluate Subjective Well-Being in Women Who are Childfree by Choice

Despite social expectations of parenthood, the proportion of people in the Western world who wish to have children is declining, and the proportion who do not want children is growing. We explored the effect of being “childfree by choice” on women's subjective well-being (SWB) by examining their level of differentiation of self, based on Bowen's family system theory. Fifty-one voluntarily child-free women and 62 mothers (control group) completed a demographic information questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index – Adult (PWI-A), and the Differentiation of Self-Inventory – Revised (DSI-R). No differences were found between child-free women and mothers for four components of differentiation of self and life satisfaction and well-being. Women who chose to remain childfree for internal reasons expressed higher levels of satisfaction with life and SWB, and lower levels of emotional reactivity than those who remained childfree for external reasons. Self-differentiation (I-position) and emotional disengagement (emotional cutoff) significantly contributed to child-free women's well-being. Our results show the importance of emphasizing self-differentiation and emotional disengagement in the context of personal and marital therapy sessions and in therapeutic work with young women facing major life decisions on motherhood/voluntary childlessness.

Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: The mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences.

Psychedelics are able to acutely alter emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. However, whether the regular naturalistic use of psychedelics can be linked to more persistent trait-level changes in these domains remains an open question. To test the hypotheses that (1) using psychedelics is related to higher positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; and (2) an adaptive pattern of self-consciousness, including diminished public self-consciousness and rumination, and increased reflection and self-awareness; and (3) these relations are mediated by the intensity of past ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. An online survey including questions about the history of psychoactive substance use; questionnaires measuring trait levels of emotional reactivity and self-consciousness; questionnaires for retrospective assessment of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. Data collected from 2516 participants (1661 psychedelics users) were analyzed using robust linear regression and mediation analysis. A higher number of lifetime uses of psychedelics predicted greater positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; also, in the domain of self-consciousness, it predicted greater reflection and internal state awareness, and reduced rumination tendency and public self-consciousness. Finally, the intensity of past mystical and ego-dissolution experiences mediated almost all the observed relationships between the lifetime number of psychedelics uses and psychological variables. Lifetime psychedelics use predicts an adaptive pattern of trait-level emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. Ego-dissolution and mystical experiences are essential in understanding the long-lasting psychological effects of psychedelics use. Our findings might potentially explain previous observations of increased well-being in psychedelics users.

The Stressful Experience of Goal Orientations Under Frustration: Evidence Using Physiological Means.

The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that goal orientation is associated with divergent forms of emotional reactivity under frustration. Goal orientations were assessed using bifurcations of performance goals described earlier. Physiological stress levels were measured via a blood volume pulse analysis after individuals were subjected to a computerized Stroop task using a malfunctioning mouse to induce enhanced frustration. The results indicated that performance-avoidance goals were associated with the highest levels of emotional reactivity, with normative outcome goals being significantly more detrimental than ability goals. We concluded that the motivation to avoid failure or to outperform others is the most detrimental determinant of stress and needs to be avoided by all means. Instead, it is suggested that educators emphasize performance using personal best outcomes or by valuing engagement, deep processing and task completion.

Self-Reported Pain and Emotional Reactivity in Bipolar Disorder: A Prospective FACE-BD Study.

In patients with bipolar disorder (BD), pain prevalence is close to 30%. It is important to determine whether pain influences BD course and to identify factors associated with pain in BD in order to guide BD management. This naturalistic, prospective study used data on 880 patients with BD from the French FACE-BD cohort who were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of pain. Multivariate models were used to test whether pain was associated with affective states and personality traits while controlling for confounders. Then, multivariate models were used to test whether pain at baseline predicted global life functioning and depressive symptomatology at one year. At baseline, 22% of patients self-reported pain. The pain was associated with depressive symptomatology, levels of emotional reactivity in a quadratic relationship, and a composite variable of personality traits (affective lability, affective intensity, hostility/anger, and impulsivity). At one year, the pain was predictive of depression and lower global life functioning. Pain worsens mental health and well-being in patients with BD. The role of emotions, depression, and personality traits in pain has to be elucidated to better understand the high prevalence of pain in BD and to promote specific therapeutic strategies for patients experiencing pain.

The Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes, Differentiation of Self, and Emotional Distress: Jews and Arabs in Israel.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a global epidemic, and is constantly on the rise. In Israel, the percentage of diabetics in the Arab population is twice that found in the Jewish population (12% and 6.2%, respectively). Findings suggest that low differentiation of self (DoS: emotional reactivity+ fusion with others, I-position, emotional cutoff) may raise vulnerability to certain physiological pathologies by increasing susceptibility to psychological distress. The major goal of this study was to test differences in DoS and emotional distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms) between diabetic and healthy participants. The second aim was to examine cultural differences within these metrics. Another purpose was to examine the relationship between DoS and emotional distress among healthy and diabetic participants. The sample included 261 participants, of whom 154 were healthy and 107 were diabetic. Diabetics reported more severe depressive symptoms, higher levels of anxiety and emotional cutoff and lower levels of I-position than healthy individuals. The groups did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Arabs demonstrated higher levels of emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms and lower levels of I-position than Jews. However, Arabs and Jews did not differ in their levels of emotional reactivity + fusion with others. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others contributed the most to diabetes among Arabs, while depressive symptoms contributed the most among Jews. Finally, among Jewish participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff and depressive symptoms. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety. Among Arab participants, age was positively correlated with emotional cutoff, anxiety and depressive symptoms. I-position was negatively correlated with all study variables. Emotional cutoff was positively correlated, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Emotional reactivity + fusion with others was positively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Emotional experience of psychotherapists: A latent profile analysis.

Psychotherapists respond to clients' emotions in their daily work. However, little is known about therapists' emotional experience and how different patterns of emotional experience are related to therapist empathy. Two samples of therapists, 1 from English-speaking countries (n = 314) and 1 from Mainland China (n = 589), completed measures of emotional reactivity, emotional regulation, expressive flexibility, and empathy. Latent profile analyses identified 3 profiles of emotional experience, namely, Calm Regulators (CR), Moderate Experiencers (ME), and Emotional Feelers (EF), in both samples, although the distribution and indicator levels of profiles differed between samples. In general, CR reported the lowest levels of emotional reactivity and emotional regulation difficulty, followed by ME and EF. CR also reported greater ability to suppress emotional expression as needed compared to ME and EF. In terms of empathy, CR reported greater perspective taking and lower personal distress than ME and EF in both samples. Empathic concern was higher in CR than ME and EF in the English-speaking sample, but did not differ across profiles in the Chinese sample. In addition, CR tended to be older and had more years of clinical experience in both samples. As an exploratory analysis, Chinese therapists with the CR profile reported higher levels of self-efficacy in handling client distress and conflicts in the therapeutic relationship compared to ME and EF. Implications of findings for practice, training, and research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Differentiation of Self and Mental Health Symptoms in Emerging Adulthood in Australia: The Role of Parenting Behaviours

To date, limited research has been undertaken regarding the interplay between differentiation of self (DoS), parental involvement, and the prevalence of psychological symptoms in emerging adults (EA) aged between 18 and 25 years in Australia. The current study aims to assess whether there is an association between mental health symptoms, perceptions of parental warmth, involvement, and autonomy support and indicators of DoS, including self‐regulation capacity and emotional reactivity. In a study of 129 undergraduate students aged between 18 and 30 years, greater DoS, involving both lower emotional reactivity and the ability to take an ‘I position’ in relation to others, was found to be associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms in EA. In addition, EA who demonstrated lower levels of emotional reactivity (higher DoS) had lower scores in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Parenting variables of caregiver warmth and autonomy granting were also found to be related to lower depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as greater DoS in EA. Regression models show that there were main effects for DoS on depressive symptoms; however, parenting behaviours were not found to moderate this relationship. Overall, this research is important as it supports Bowen’s (1978) theorising in relation to the relationship between DoS and mental health, and consideration of the contribution of parenting variables to indicators of well‐being in EA. In this, family therapy has a role in educating both young adults and their parents in how best to promote independence and autonomy for improved psychological health. Further research should focus on the complexity of parenting controlling behaviours on mental health symptoms in EA.

The role of emotional reactivity in a relation between sleep problems and the use of screen-based media among toddlers and pre-schoolers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between toddlers’ and pre-schoolers’ sleep problems, screen-based media use, sleep regime and the role of child emotional reactivity in this relationship. This research is a part of an extensive national study. Participants are 754 children aged 2–5 years old, and their parents. Sleep problems were related to emotional reactivity and sleep regime. The longer screen time was associated with the higher levels of emotional reactivity, but not with sleep problems; however, emotional reactivity was significant for more sleep problems, inconsistent sleep regime and longer screen time. Results of paths analysis have revealed that emotional reactivity both directly and through the mediators – sleep regime, screen time and a screen-based device positioned in a child’s bedroom – significantly predicted sleep problems. Emotional reactivity plays a considerable role as a risk factor when examining the effect of screen media use for sleep problems.

Emotional reactions and subjective health status during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel: the mediating role of perceived susceptibility

ABSTRACT The general consensus is that COVID-19, the virus spreading rapidly across the globe, affects physical health but also mental health and mental well-being. This study aimed to assess the associations among emotional reactions toward COVID-19, knowledge about COVID-19, perceived susceptibility to this disease, and subjective health status. This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 1,085 Israeli adults who completed an online survey between April 23 and May 5, 2020. The self-administered questionnaire included questions about emotional reactions to COVID-19, knowledge about COVID-19, perceived susceptibility, subjective health status, and sociodemographic variables. Participants (aged 18-96) reported high levels of emotional reactions to COVID-19. Most respondents were worried (77.4%), afraid (62.8%) or stressed (55.3%). Emotional reaction scores were higher among women than among men. In the regression model, emotional reactions were higher for older participants, those who rated their subjective health status as poorer, and those who were employed, with the final model explaining 11.6% of the variance in emotional reactions. Perceived susceptibility significantly mediated the relationship between subjective health status and emotional reactions. The high prevalence of emotional responses among women, older people and those with lower subjective health ratings points to the need for intervention programs primarily targeting these groups.

The role of negative emotional reactivity and neighborhood factors in predicting marijuana use during early adolescence

IntroductionNegative emotional reactivity and the neighborhood environment have been individually associated with marijuana use outcomes; however, less is known about whether neighborhood factors differentiate the association between negative emotional reactivity and marijuana use. The present study examined whether neighborhood risk (i.e., neighborhood problems) and protective factors (i.e., neighborhood social cohesion) moderated the relation between negative emotional reactivity and marijuana use during early adolescence. Methods. Participants were 775 adolescents (M = 10.95 ± 0.88 years; 69% male; 76% Caucasian), who reported on their past month frequency of marijuana use at Time 1 (when adolescents were 10-12 years old) and Time 2 (when adolescents were 12-14 years old). Mothers reported on neighborhood problems and neighborhood social cohesion at Time 1. Youth reported on their negative emotional reactivity at Time 2. ResultsNegative binomial regression analyses indicated that neighborhood problems moderated the relationship between negative emotional reactivity and marijuana use. In particular, in the context of low neighborhood problems, individuals with lower negative emotional reactivity were at attenuated risk for marijuana use compared to individuals higher in negative emotional reactivity. In the context of high neighborhood problems, individuals were at heightened risk for marijuana consumption regardless of their negative emotional reactivity levels. ConclusionsFindings suggest that individual-level factors alone do not sufficiently account for early marijuana use and that neighborhood problems play a role in risk for or abstention from using marijuana during early adolescence. Implications for prevention and intervention for marijuana use during adolescence are discussed.

How Gender Differences in Emotional Cutoff and Reactivity Influence Couple’s Sexual and Relational Outcomes

We evaluated gender differences in differentiation of self, specifically addressing aspects of emotional cutoff (EC) and emotional reactivity (ER), and their association with relational and sexual satisfaction and sexual desire. Midlife U.S. men and women (N = 334 married heterosexual couples; 50% female; 85% Caucasian, mean age 47.4 years) completed online surveys. Men reported higher levels of EC compared to women after accounting for control variables—a medium effect (Cohen's d = .48) which negatively predicted their own relationship and sexual satisfaction as well as partner relationship satisfaction. Women’s EC was also negatively associated with their own relationship satisfaction. Women reported higher levels of ER compared to men after accounting for control variables—a small effect (Cohen's d = .18). No associations with ER and outcome variables were found and no other partner effects were found. For couples in which the woman was higher on ER, the association between women's T1 emotional reactivity and men's T2 sexual desire was positive and significant (B = .31, p < .05). These findings underscore the influence of emotional cutoff on relationship satisfaction and sexual desire and the importance of staying engaged even through relational conflict.

What is alexithymia? Using factor analysis to establish its latent structure and relationship with fantasizing and emotional reactivity.

There is ongoing uncertainty about the structure and definition of alexithymia. Conceptually, alexithymia has traditionally been defined as a multidimensional trait with four components: difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, externally orientated thinking, and difficulty fantasizing. However, some authors suggest that difficulty fantasizing might not be a component, and others suggest low emotional reactivity is a fifth component. In this study, we sought to clarify this issue using factor analysis. In a sample of adults (N=508), we administered a comprehensive battery of psychometric measures and analyzed their latent structure using exploratory factor analysis. Subscales assessing difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally orientated thinking all loaded well together on the alexithymia factor. However, none of the subscales assessing aspects of difficulty fantasizing (i.e., daydreaming frequency, vividness, content, or use of daydreams to regulate emotions) loaded on the alexithymia factor. Similarly, no emotional reactivity subscales loaded on the alexithymia factor, and alexithymia was associated with higher (not lower) levels of emotional reactivity for negative emotions. Difficulty fantasizing and low emotional reactivity are not components of the latent alexithymia construct. The traditional four-component definition of alexithymia likely warrants refinement to a more parsimonious three-component solution.

Parental negative emotionality and emotional reactions to child’s crying: the mediating role of child’s temperament

ABSTRACT Child’s crying is the stimuli serving the development of a child–parent relationship through evoking child-oriented and parent-oriented parental reactions. Individual differences in parental reactions to crying have been partly explained by parental and child’s temperament. We conducted two studies to verify the predicting effects of temperamental emotionality of parents and children on mothers’ (Study 1 and 2) and fathers’ (Study 2) self-reported emotional reactions to own child crying. In the Study 1 (N = 108), maternal ratings of the child’s global level of emotional reactivity and regulation partially mediated the relationship between mother’s emotional reactivity and parent-oriented reactions to the child crying. This result was confirmed in the Study 2 (N = 270) with maternal general negative affect and child’s negative emotionality as predictors. Additionally, in the Study 2, child’s temperamental negative emotionality fully mediated the relationship between the father’s negative affect and parent-oriented emotional reactions to the child’s crying.

Control and Emotional Reactivity Levels: Which One, Positive or Negative Emotional Reactivity Links with Effortful Control?

The research investigated the relationship between effortful control and emotional reactivity in students. It also analyzed the description of each variable descriptively based on the levels of effortful control and the level of emotional reactivity. The method was by self-report through questionnaires distributed to students aged 18-30 years. There were 357 participants that were consisting of 94 male students and 263 female students. The measuring instrument was the Effortful Control from the Adult Temperament Scale Questionnaire (ATQ) Scale-Short form, and the Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale-Short Form scale. The result shows that there is a positive significant relationship between effortful control and positive emotional reactivity. However, the research shows that there is a negatively significant relationship between effortful control and negative emotional reactivity. It states that students with high levels of effortful control have high positive emotional reactivity. Likewise, students who have low levels of effortful have low positive emotional reactivity. However, individuals who have a high level of effortful control have low negative emotional reactivity and vice versa.

Emotion Recognition and Reactivity in Persons With Neurodegenerative Disease Are Differentially Associated With Caregiver Health.

Motivated by the high rates of health problems found among caregivers of persons with neurodegenerative disease, we examined associations between deficits in two aspects of care recipients' socioemotional functioning and their caregivers' health. In 2 studies with independent samples (N = 171 and 73 dyads), caregivers reported on care recipients' emotion recognition and emotional reactivity. Caregiver health was assessed using both self-report measures (Studies 1 and 2) and autonomic nervous system indices (Study 2). Lower emotion recognition in care recipients was linearly associated with worse self-reported health, faster resting heart rate, and greater physiological reactivity to an acoustic startle stimulus in caregivers. These effects held after accounting for a variety of risk factors for poor caregiver health, including care recipients' neuropsychiatric symptoms. Emotional reactivity showed a quadratic association with health, such that the lowest and highest levels of emotional reactivity in care recipients were associated with lower self-reported health in caregivers. Results shed light on the unique associations between two aspects of care recipients' emotional functioning and caregivers' health. Findings suggest potential ways to identify and help caregivers at heightened risk for adverse health outcomes.