Role Of Emotion Regulation Strategies Research Articles

The Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Temperament and Depression in Preadolescents.

This study explored the relationship between temperament-i.e., negative affectivity (NA) and effortful control (EC)-and depression in preadolescents, considering emotion regulation (ER) strategies as mediating mechanisms in this relationship. We examined data from 535 children aged 8-12years (M ± SD = 10.01 ± 1.42) who completed self-report measures related to NA, EC, ER strategies, depressive symptoms, and depressive mood. The results demonstrated that NA was significantly positively related to both depressive symptoms and depressive mood, while EC was significantly negatively related to both depressive symptoms and depressive mood. The structural equation model of latent variable analysis showed that cognitive reappraisal mediated the relationship between NA and depressive symptoms and depressive mood. Moreover, cognitive reappraisal was also identified as a mediator of the association between EC and depressive symptoms and depressive mood. However, expressive suppression only mediated the relationship between NA and depressive symptoms. Interventions aimed at ER strategies would be an effective program for preadolescents with depression and further improve preadolescents' social-emotional development.

Positive rumination can (also) interfere with sleep: A study in a non-clinical sample.

It is postulated that negative ruminations perpetuate insomnia symptoms by increasing arousal. Less is known about the role of positive rumination. In this study, we set out to test the association between positive and negative ruminations and insomnia symptoms in a non-clinical sample, asking whether reappraisal and suppression moderate the relationship between rumination types and symptoms of insomnia.MethodsA convenience sample of 354 participants (59% women), ages 18–50, responded to online questionnaires regarding symptoms of insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire that provides separate scales for Reappraisal and Suppression, Negative Rumination (Ruminative Response Scale), Positive Rumination and Dampening (Responses to Positive Affect questionnaire), and general health and demographics.ResultsAbout 30% of respondents had moderate to severe symptoms of insomnia according to the ISI. The primary hypothesis was tested using three moderation models, where rumination type, emotion regulation styles, and interaction terms were predictors, and ISI scores were the outcome variable. Negative rumination positively predicted ISI (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), while the interaction terms with Reappraisal (β = 0.02, p = 0.575) and Suppression (β = 0.07, p = 0.092) were not significant. Dampening also positively predicted ISI (β = 0.56, p < 0.001), with the interaction term with Reappraisal nearly significant (β = −0.09, p = 0.060), but not with Suppression (β = 0.08, p =0.098). Positive rumination negatively predicted ISI (β = −0.12, p = 0.021), this relationship was reversed with emotion regulation factors in the model (β = 0.11, p = 0.094), where the interaction with Reappraisal (β = 0.13, p = 0.020) and Suppression (β = −0.13, p = 0.024) were both significant.DiscussionPositive Rumination weakly and negatively correlated with ISI, but the combination with Reappraisal was associated with more insomnia symptoms. By contrast, Dampening was associated with more insomnia symptoms, with minimal to no moderating effects. These observations are interpreted in the context of the role of emotion regulation strategies and sleep, and their potential clinical implications.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Emotional Abuse and Self-Harm Behaviors in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is important to pay attention to the self-injury behaviors in adolescence as one of the high-risk behaviors with adverse consequences for the individual and society. Objective: This study aims to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between emotional abuse in childhood and self-injury behaviors in female adolescents. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Participants were 200 female high school students in Rasht, Iran in the academic year 2020-2021 who were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data collection tools included the self-harm inventory (SHI), childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), and emotion regulation questionnaire (ERQ). The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and path analysis in SPSS Software v. 23 and Amos v. 26. Results: There was a significant relationship between emotional abuse and self-injury behaviors (P&lt;0.001). The reappraisal domain had a significant negative relationship with emotional abuse and self-injury behaviors, and the suppression domain had a significant positive relationship with emotional abuse and self-injury behaviors. Emotion regulation strategies had partial mediating role in the relationship between emotional abuse and self-injury behaviors (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Considering the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies, more attention to the use of these strategies should be paid to reduce the occurrence of self-injury behaviors in female adolescents.

The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Big Five Personality Traits and Anxiety and Depression Among Chinese Firefighters.

Identification of protective factors to prevent firefighters' anxiety and depression is meaningful. We explored whether emotion-regulation strategies mediate the relationship between personality traits and anxiety and depression among Chinese firefighters. Approximately, 716 Chinese firefighters were recruited and completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Big Five Inventory−2 (BFI-2) Scale. Results (N = 622) indicated that only negative emotionality traits could predict anxiety symptoms. Meanwhile, the multilevel mediation effect analyses showed that conscientiousness through cognitive reappraisal could reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese firefighters. Our findings clarify Chinese firefighters' underlying emotion-regulation process between personality traits and anxiety and depression. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms in undergraduate medical students : The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies.

IntroductionSeveral studies report that medical students are at high risk of depression. Despite the variability in students’ vulnerability to depression, the role of individual differences in depression risk among medical students has hardly been investigated. Studies outside of medical student populations have shown that individual differences in attachment style and emotion regulation participate in vulnerability to depression.ObjectivesThis study investigates to what extent medical students’ depressive symptoms are related to differences in students’ insecure attachment styles and their perception of reduced access to emotion regulation strategies.MethodsIn a cross-sectional quantitative study, undergraduate medical students at the beginning of their second academic year completed online questionnaires measuring their attachment style, difficulties in emotion regulation, and depressive symptoms.ResultsOut of the 390 medical students invited, 267 participated in the survey. Higher secure attachment was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Medical students’ insecure attachment style and emotion dysregulation were significantly related to depressive symptoms. Difficulties in employing strategies to disengage from one’s own negative affect partly mediated the effects of two dimensions of insecure anxious attachment—need for approval and preoccupation with relationships—on depressive symptoms.DiscussionAnxious attachment style and limited access to emotion regulation strategies participate in medical students’ depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the need for acknowledging medical students’ attachment style and students’ perceived access to emotion regulation strategies for the early identification of and intervention programs for the risk of depression.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40037-022-00713-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mindfulness as a Protective Factor Against Depression, Anxiety and Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Emotion Regulation and Insomnia Symptoms as Mediators.

ObjectivesResearch has linked mindfulness to improved mental health, yet the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. This study explored the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies and sleep in the relationship between mindfulness and symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAs detailed in this study’s pre-registration (osf.io/k9qtw), a cross-sectional research design was used to investigate the impact of mindfulness on mental health and the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal, rumination and suppression) and insomnia. A total of 493 participants from the general population answered an online survey and were included in the final analysis. The online survey consisted of the short form of the Five-Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SF), the Impact of Event Scale-revised (IES-R), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), the short form of the Rumination Response Scale (RSS-SF), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).ResultsStructural equation modelling revealed that mindfulness was related to lower symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychological distress, both directly and indirectly. Mindfulness was negatively associated with rumination and insomnia. As hypothesised, models revealed that the associations between mindfulness and depression, anxiety and psychological distress were significantly mediated by its negative associations with rumination and insomnia. Our findings also demonstrated that rumination was related to increased insomnia symptoms, which in turn was associated with increased mental health problems, indicating a mediated mediation. Mindfulness was also positively associated with cognitive reappraisal and negatively associated with suppression, which were, respectively, negatively and positively associated with depressive symptoms, and thus functioned as specific mediators of the association between mindfulness and depression.ConclusionOur findings suggest that rumination and insomnia operate transdiagnostically as interrelated mediators of the effects of mindfulness on mental health, whereas cognitive reappraisal and suppression function as specific mediators for depression. These insights emphasise the importance of targeting emotion regulation and sleep in mindfulness interventions for improving mental health. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed.

Job burnout among Israeli healthcare workers during the first months of COVID-19 pandemic: The role of emotion regulation strategies and psychological distress.

The current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has elicited widespread concerns and stress. Arguably, healthcare workers are especially vulnerable to experience burnout during these times due to the nature of their work. Indeed, high prevalence of burnout was found among healthcare workers during the outbreak. However, the individual differences predicting burnout among healthcare workers during the pandemic have been understudied. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to identify risk and protective factors contributing to the severity of burnout among healthcare workers, above and beyond levels of current psychological distress. The survey was distributed online during the period April 13-28, 2020, approximately two months after the first COVID-19 case was identified in Israel. Ninety-eight healthcare workers completed an online survey administered cross-sectionally via the Qualtrics platform that included questionnaires assessing habitual emotion regulation strategies (i.e., trait worry, reappraisal, and suppression), psychological distress, COVID-19 related concerns, and burnout. A hierarchical linear regression analysis revealed that only trait worry and psychological distress were significant predictors of job burnout among healthcare workers. These findings highlight the role of maladaptive emotion regulation tendencies, specifically trait worry, in job burnout among healthcare workers. These findings have implications for both the assessment and treatment of healthcare workers. We discuss potential mechanisms and implications for practice.

Anxiety, Boredom, and Burnout Among EFL Teachers: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation.

Teachers’ emotions are explicitly and conceptually presented as part of an educational system that affects and is affected by learner upshots, namely, learners’ self-emotions, behaviors, and cognition since educators and learners are involved in the outcomes of the school setting. English as a foreign language (EFL) educators recurrently experience emotional damages during involvement in their profession as burnout, stress, boredom, and anxiety. EFL teachers need to regulate their emotions when facing a multivariate class environment that provides each learner with undeniable uniqueness. The subject of the relationship between emotion regulation and the teacher’s emotions is receiving increasing attention in research. EFL teachers should be provided with an emotional regulation strategy to have a positive learning-instructing effect in the entire school community as fun learning activities, energetic students, enthusiastic educators, and strong relationships between the board of education. To focus on the role of teachers’ emotion on the one hand and the mediator role of emotional regulation, on the other hand, the current study endeavored to review the role of emotional regulation strategies more intensely to decrease negative emotions. Finally, some educational suggestions of the study regarding the educators’ behaviors are pinpointed.

Epidemiology of Childhood Witnessing Domestic Violence and Exploration of Its Relationships With Affective Lability and Suicide Attempts in Chinese Young Adults.

Childhood witnessing domestic violence (CWDV) exerts short- and long-term negative impacts on emotional and behavioral health. The present study investigated the epidemiological features of CWDV, and its negative impact on psychological outcomes in a sample of Chinese college students. The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies on CWDV associations with psychological outcomes and gender differences in these relationships were examined. A total of 3,126 respondents (1,034 males; 2,086 females; 6 missing data in gender) completed the study questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, CWDV, and suicide attempt history items as well as the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and Affect Lability Scale-18 (ALS-18). Overall, 43.03% of the respondents reported CWDV, including 44.87% of males and 42.09% of females. Higher frequencies of CWDV were found to be related to the following factors: unstable marital status of parents; not being an only child; being a left-behind child, family financial difficulties, consumption of alcohol in the past year, and being in relatively poor physical condition. Among males, ERQ suppression scores were significantly higher for those men who experienced "often or every day" CWDV than for men who indicated that they did not have any history of CWDV (Bonferroni-corrected p = 0.047). More frequent CWDV was associated with higher ALS-18 scores and increased risk of suicide attempts in males and females (p < 0.05), and emotion regulation (suppression) was found to mediate the association between CWDV and affective lability among males. This study revealed high rates of CWDV, and serious impacts of CWDV on mental health in male and female Chinese college students. In males, but not females, emotion regulation strategy use, use of suppression, was found to act as a mediator in the association of CWDV with affective lability. Our findings suggest that interventions for individuals with CWDV should focus on the emotional regulation, which may help them improve mental health, especially in males.

Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Regulation Strategies, and Subjective Well-Being Among University Teachers: A Moderated Mediation Analysis.

This study aimed to explore the mediating role of emotional regulation strategies in the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and subjective well-being (SWB) among Chinese university teachers, and evaluate whether effort-reward imbalance moderated the mediating effect of emotional regulation strategies. A total of 308 Chinese university teachers were recruited for this study. The results showed that emotional regulation strategies played a partial mediating role in the relationship between EI and SWB. Moreover, an effort-reward imbalance moderated the relationship between emotional regulation strategies and SWB. For individuals with more balanced perceptions, EI had a significant effect on SWB via cognitive reappraisal, while for individuals with more imbalanced perceptions, EI did not have a significant effect on SWB via cognitive reappraisal. These findings provide a better understanding of the effects of EI and emotional regulation strategies on SWB, which could provide interventions for promoting SWB among teachers.

The role of emotion regulation strategies on healthcare workers’ mental health during the COVID-19

The role of emotion regulation strategies on healthcare workers’ mental health during the COVID-19

Impact of psychological contract breach on police corruption in Nigeria: The moderating role of emotion regulation strategies

Using insight from social exchange and conservation of resources theories, the present study address the void in the literature on the relationship between psychological contract breach (PCB) and police corruption, and investigates the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) in the relationship. Data were collected from 391 (198 male and 193 female) police personnel in various police divisions in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. The results of moderated hierarchical regression analysis showed that PCB ( β = .17, p &lt; .05) and expressive suppression ( β = .22, p &lt; .01) were positively related to police corruption. However, cognitive reappraisal ( β = −.26, p &lt; .05) was negatively associated with police corruption. Finally, whereas cognitive reappraisal ( β = −.10, p &lt; .05) buffers the positive relationship between PCB and police corruption, expressive suppression exacerbates this relationship ( β = .19 , p &lt; .01). These findings suggest the need for cognitive reappraisal training for police personnel.

Emotion Regulation and Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Post-Graduate University Students

Background: In early 2020, The COVID-19 became a global public health concern. After the first report of three known cases on 8 March 2020, Bangladesh went on lock-down, and also, educational institutions have been put on an extended lock-down. As a consequence, it put a pause on the students’ academic activity. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the state of mental health of the postgraduate students in a tertiary educational institution in Bangladesh and the role of emotion regulation strategies they use in managing their well-being. Methods: The present study was designed as a cross-sectional online survey covering 206 young adults. Participants completed questionnaires of Emotion Regulation, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, COVID-19 concern ratings, and provided demographic information. Results: Students used Cognitive Reappraisal strategy while they were feeling anxious and depressed with Expressive Suppression more often to regulate their depressive state. Both current students and graduates were worried about their future career, and students still studying were highly anxious regarding their academic future. Moreover, not knowing virus infection status made them highly anxious and depressed. Conclusions: The psychological impact of COVID-19 on postgraduate students has been found significantly higher. The trend is somewhat not unexpected as social and daily life functioning has changed remarkably due to COVID-19 pandemic. The present study opens a door for mental health professionals in terms of assessment, points of collaboration, providing intervention and support where needed.

Emotional labour, emotional regulation strategies, and secondary traumatic stress: a cross-sectional study of allied mental health professionals in the UK

ABSTRACT The present study investigates relations among emotional labour, emotional regulation strategies, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in a sample of allied mental health professionals (AMHPs) in the UK. It empirically examines the relationship between emotional labour and STS; and, explores the moderational role of emotional regulation strategies. Participants included 99 clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, and psychiatric social workers who completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of items related to demographics, emotional labour (surface acting and deep acting), emotional regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), and STS. Fifty-one percent of participants reported high levels of STS. Data analysed using hierarchical multiple regression revealed that age, surface acting, and expressive suppression significantly predicted STS. Deep acting predicted STS only for those participants who reported high levels of STS. Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression did not moderate the relationship between emotional labour and STS. Limitations of the study mainly relate to its small sample size. It contributes to the literature by highlighting high levels of STS among AMHPs and providing a rationale for future research on the construct. In addition, it promotes the development of AMHPs’ personal capabilities and professional resources to ensure effective delivery of mental health services.

COVID-19 Stressors and Poor Sleep Quality: The Mediating Role of Rumination and the Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies.

BackgroundThe global spread of COVID-19 has brought immense psychological distress and sleep problems to those affected. This study examined the mediating role of rumination in the direct association between COVID-19 stressors and poor sleep quality and the moderating roles of emotion regulation strategies.MethodA cross-sectional online survey study was conducted in China during the early outbreak of the pandemic. A total of 1106 Chinese college students (Mage = 19.58, SD = 1.61) completed measures of COVID-19 stressors, rumination, emotion regulation strategies (i.e., cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), and poor sleep quality.ResultsCOVID-19 stressors were positively associated with poor sleep quality (β = .431, p < .001), and rumination partially mediated this association. The mediation effect accounted for 70.93% of the total effect of COVID-19 stressors on poor sleep quality. Moreover, cognitive reappraisal moderated the relation between COVID-19 stressors and rumination, and expressive suppression moderated the association between rumination and poor sleep quality.ConclusionRumination could be a mechanism by which COVID-19 stressors are linked with poor sleep quality. Cognitive reappraisal might provide desired benefits to improving sleep quality while expressive suppression may do the opposite. Implications for future steps and health interventions are discussed.

The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between family of origin violence and intimate partner violence

The effects of family of origin violence and intimate partner violence have been extensively documented; however, very few studies have examined the interaction with emotion regulation strategies. Thus, the objective of this research was to analyze whether different types of emotion regulation strategies, both adaptive and maladaptive, mediate the relationship between family of origin violence and intimate partner violence in the Mexican population. A total of 838 participants (45.9% men and 54.1% women) responded to instruments addressing family of origin violence, emotion regulation strategies, and intimate partner violence. The results revealed that both structural models were significant. For women, the model showed an adequate fit X2 (11, N = 838) = 22.75, p = .288, GFI = .95, AGFI = .91, NFI = .98, CFI = .97, RMSEA = .05. Likewise, we found similar indexes for men X2 (11, N = 838) = 28.20, p = .348, GFI = .97, AGFI = .93, NFI = .97, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .04. Specifically, the direct effects of adaptive strategies on intimate partner violence were statistically significant. Meanwhile, the direct effects of family of origin violence on maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were significant, as were the direct effects of maladaptive strategies on intimate partner violence. In turn, the indirect effects of family of-origin violence were significantly related to intimate partner violence via maladaptive emotion regulation strategies. In addition, the results clearly showed that men reported higher levels of aggression against women. Finally, regarding the selection of emotion regulation strategies, while women employed more adaptive emotion regulation, men showed a more definite tendency to use maladaptive emotion regulation.

The Role of Emotion Regulation in Pain Management Among Women From Labor to Three Months Postpartum: An Integrative Review

BackgroundEmotion regulation is a regulatory process to modify emotional activation in a wide range of situations and shows potential effects to reduce pain and emotional distress. The purpose of this review was to enhance an understanding of the role of emotion regulation strategies and their outcomes in reducing women's pain from labor to 3 months postpartum. DesignIntegrative review. MethodsThe literature was reviewed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The search was conducted using electronic databases CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest dissertation from 1990-2019. ResultsNine publications were included. Two emotion regulation strategies, mindfulness and distraction, were used. The findings revealed that prolonged training in mindfulness-based interventions produced significant improvements in decreasing pain intensity during labor and increasing maternal comfort 2 hours postpartum. The distraction strategy showed a significant decrease in pain intensity during labor for women who were trained and self-practiced during the prenatal period. ConclusionsBoth mindfulness and distraction would be offered to pregnant women as part of alternative self-pain management strategies to prepare them for dealing with pain and other discomforts. Future research needs to test the effects of the intervention beyond childbirth.

The mechanism of executive dysfunction in depressive symptoms: the role of emotion regulation strategies

Cognitive vulnerability may be a useful predictor of depression, and difficulty in emotion regulation is considered to be a core symptom of depression. The current study aims to examine the role of individual differences in executive dysfunction that predict depressive symptoms and the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies. A total of 1017 Chinese college students (84.0% females, Mage = 20.25) completed the Dysexecutive Questionnaire, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Self-Rating Depression Scale. The results show that (1) executive dysfunction, depressive symptoms, and emotion regulation are significantly correlated, and (2) executive dysfunction has a significant direct effect on depressive symptoms and significant indirect effects on depressive symptoms through reappraisal and expressive suppression. These findings provide new insights into pathways from executive function to depressive symptoms through different emotion regulation strategies, suggesting novel treatment approaches.

Is It Possible to Be Happy during the COVID-19 Lockdown? A Longitudinal Study of the Role of Emotional Regulation Strategies and Pleasant Activities in Happiness.

This study aimed to longitudinally analyze the role played by two emotional regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), through the mediating effect of engagement in pleasant activities during lockdown, in changes in affective and cognitive happiness in comparison with pre-pandemic levels. Eighty-eight participants from a community sample were evaluated at two timepoints. At timepoint 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), participants were evaluated on emotional regulation and cognitive and affective happiness. At timepoint 2 (during the COVID-19 lockdown), participants were evaluated on cognitive and affective happiness and the frequency with which they engaged in pleasant activities. We found an optimal fit of the proposed model in which cognitive reappraisal was significantly related to engagement in more pleasant activities during the lockdown. In turn, these pleasant activities were related to more affective happiness during the lockdown (compared with pre-pandemic levels), and this affective happiness was associated with greater cognitive happiness. In conclusion, cognitive reappraisal was a protective factor for affective and cognitive happiness through the mediating role of engagement in pleasant activities during lockdown. Limitations and future lines of investigation are discussed.

Moral disengagement and bullying at school: Is there a gender issue?

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between moral disengagement, emotion regulation and bullying behavior at school. Participants were 512 adolescents (281 males and 231 females) attending secondary schools in Cyprus. They completed a questionnaire package two times, with a five months period between them. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to investigate the relationships among the variables under study. Moderation analyses were used to examine the moderating role of emotion regulation strategies on the effect of moral disengagement on bullying activity and multi-group analyses were further employed to examine the role of gender as a potential moderator. In line with earlier research, a positive association between moral disengagement and bullying behavior was found. Further, it was found that emotion regulation serves as a moderator of the effect of moral disengagement on bullying behavior. However, such moderation was found only for girls who use maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.