scholarly journals Smiling won't make you feel better, but it might make people like you more: Interpersonal and interpersonal consequences of response-focused emotion regulation strategies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Bahl ◽  
Allison Ouimet
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
Regulation Strategies

Emotion regulation (ER) is integral to well-being and relationship quality. Experimental studies tend to explore the intrapersonal effects of ER (i.e., impacts of ER on one’s self), and leave out the interpersonal impacts (i.e., the bidirectional impact of ER on the regulator and partner). The ER strategy expressive suppression shows maladaptive interpersonal and intrapersonal consequences during distressing conversations. We aimed to explore whether other ER strategies that modify facial expressions (i.e., expressive dissonance) have similar consequences to suppressing emotions. We randomly assigned 164 women participants to use expressive dissonance, expressive suppression, or to naturally express emotions, while engaging in a conversation task with a confederate. We observed intrapersonal outcomes, including electrodermal activity and self-reported affect throughout the experiment, and memory performance after. Blinded video coders assessed the conversation on interpersonal qualities (e.g., friendliness and likeability). There were no differences between conditions on intrapersonal outcomes. Participants engaging in expressive dissonance, however, were rated more positively, and participants in the expressive suppression condition were rated more negatively on interpersonal qualities, relative to the control condition. Although neither strategy appeared to impact the participant, intrapersonally, both notably influenced the observer’s impression of the participant.

scholarly journals Exploring Emotion Regulation and Perceived Control as Antecedents of Anxiety and Its Consequences During Covid-19 Full Remote Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Zhao ◽  
Zongmei Fu ◽  
Xi Lian ◽  
Linning Ye ◽  
Wei Huang
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Perceived Learning ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Remote Learning

Maintaining the emotional well-being of learners during a pandemic is important. This study explored the effects of two emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) and perceived control on full remote learners' anxiety during Covid-19, and their relationship to perceived learning. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze 239 questionnaires completed by Chinese graduate students taking a course remotely from home for 13 weeks. This study showed that reappraisal was positively related to perceived control, whereas suppression was negatively related to perceived control. Reappraisers perceived more learning, whereas suppressors experienced more anxiety. Anxiety was significantly and negatively related to perceived learning. Mediation analyses showed the existence of different patterns of mediation in the pathways from the two types of emotion regulation to perceived learning. These findings are discussed in relation to relevant studies conducted during non-pandemic periods and Covid-19, and based on the results we highlight the need for interventions aimed at developing adaptive emotion regulation strategies and reducing anxiety in emergency remote learning.

scholarly journals Cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression relate differentially to longitudinal structural brain development across adolescence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Ferschmann ◽  
Nandita Vijayakumar ◽  
Håkon Grydeland ◽  
Knut Overbye ◽  
Kathryn L. Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Cognitive Reappraisal ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
The Brain

Emotional disorders commonly emerge in adolescence, a period characterized by changes in emotion-related processes. Thus, the ability to regulate emotions is crucial for well-being and adaptive social functioning during this period. Concurrently, the brain undergoes large structural and functional changes. We investigated relations between tendencies to use two emotion regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, and structural development of the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures (specifically amygdala and nucleus accumbens given these structures are frequently associated with emotion regulation). A total of 112 participants (59 females) aged 8-26 were followed for up to 3 times over a 7-year period, providing 272 observations. Participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), yielding a measure of tendencies to use cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression at the final time point. Linear mixed model analyses were performed to account for the longitudinal nature of the data. Contrary to expectations, volumetric growth of the amygdala and nucleus accumbens was not associated with either emotion regulation strategy. However, frequent use of expressive suppression was linked to greater regionally-specific apparent cortical thinning in both sexes, while tendency to use cognitive reappraisal was associated with greater regionally-specific apparent thinning in females and less thinning in males. Although cognitive reappraisal is traditionally associated with cognitive control regions of the brain, our results suggest it is also associated with regions involved in social cognition and semantics. The continued changes in cortical morphology and their associations with habitual use of different emotion regulation strategies indicate continued plasticity during this period, and represent an opportunity for interventions targeting emotion regulation for adolescents at risk.

Smiling won’t make you feel better: Response-focused emotion regulation strategies have little impact on cognitive, behavioural, physiological, and subjective outcomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Bahl ◽  
Allison Ouimet
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Electrodermal Activity ◽  
Adaptive Strategy ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
Memory Accuracy ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
The Common ◽  
Subjective Outcomes

Background and Objectives. Response-focused emotion regulation (RF-ER) strategies may alter people’s evoked emotions, influencing psychophysiology, memory accuracy, and affect. Researchers have found that participants engaging in expressive suppression (ES; a RF-ER strategy) experience increased sympathetic nervous system arousal, affect (i.e., higher subjective anxiety and negative emotion), and lowered memory accuracy. It is unclear, however, whether all RF-ER strategies exert maladaptive effects. Expressive dissonance (ED; displaying an expression opposite from how one feels) is a RF-ER strategy, and thus likely considered “maladaptive”. As outlined by the facial feedback hypothesis, however, smiling may increase positive emotion, suggesting it may be an adaptive strategy. We compared the effects of ED and ES to a control condition on psychophysiology, memory accuracy, and affect, to assess whether ED is an adaptive RF-ER strategy, relative to ES. Methods. We randomly assigned 144 female participants to engage in ED, ES, or to naturally observe, while viewing negative and arousing images. We recorded electrodermal activity and self-reported affect throughout the experiment and participants completed memory tasks. Results. There were no differences between groups across outcomes. Conclusion. Engaging in ES or ED may not lead to negative or positive impacts, shedding doubt on the common conclusion that specific strategies are categorically adaptive or maladaptive.

Emotion Regulation Strategies Predict Emotional Distress during the COVID-19 Outbreak among Parents of Children with Special Needs

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mor Keleynikov ◽  
Joy Benatov ◽  
Noga Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children With Special Needs ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
School Closures ◽  
Raising Children ◽  
Regulation Strategies

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has been declared a global pandemic. The consequences of this pandemic, among them changes in routine, quarantine, school closures and more, place children with special needs and their families at risk of severe emotional distress. Therefore, the present study used an online survey to measure stress, anxiety and depression levels as well as concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak among 94 parents of children with special needs (mean age = 41.6 years, SD = 6.59; 83% female) and 79 parents raising a typically developing child (mean age = 40.85 years, SD = 7.40; 85% female). We also examined whether the use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies (reappraisal and suppression, respectively) predicts emotional distress among the two parent groups. The results indicate that compared to parents of TD children, parents of children with special needs reported more concerns about the COVID19 outbreak and more symptoms of emotional distress (depression, anxiety and stress). The use of adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies moderated the association between concerns arising from the COVID-19 outbreak and emotional distress. In addition, the habitual use of emotion regulation strategies predicted distress only among parents of children with special needs but not among parents of TD children. These findings highlight the role played by emotion regulation in maintaining well-being at times of crisis among vulnerable populations, such as families raising children with special needs.

scholarly journals Italia Ti Ascolto [Italy, I am listening]: an app-based group psychological intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Antonia Lucia Parolin ◽  
Ilaria Maria Antonietta Benzi ◽  
Erika Fanti ◽  
Alberto Milesi ◽  
Pietro Cipresso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Expressive Suppression ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Intervention Protocol ◽  
Regulation Strategies

The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted individuals’ psychological wellbeing resulting in heightened perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. However, a significant issue in accessing psychological care during a lockdown is the lack of access to in-person interventions. In this regard, research has shown the efficacy and utility of psychological app-based interventions. ‘Italia Ti Ascolto’ (ITA) has been developed as a population tailored internet-based intervention to offer an online professional solution for psychological support needs. The ITA app is available on iOS and Android systems. Users completed a baseline assessment on emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), psychological stress, anxiety, depression, and perceived social support. Participants could select among several one-hour long clinical groups held by expert psychotherapists. After every session, people were asked to complete a quick users’ satisfaction survey. Our contribution presents ITA’s intervention protocol and discusses preliminary data on psychological variables collected at baseline. Data showed significant associations between emotion regulation strategies, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and level of stress. Moreover, the role of perceived social support is considered. Future developments and implications for clinical practice and treatment are discussed.

scholarly journals Social Media Activities, Emotion Regulation Strategies, and Their Interactions on People’s Mental Health in COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Keqiao Liu ◽  
Siqi Li ◽  
Man Shu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Regulation Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the general population’s life worldwide. People may spend more time on social media because of policies like “work at home”. Using a cross-sectional dataset collected through an online survey in February 2020, in China, we examined (1) the relationships between social media activities and people’s mental health status and (2) the moderation effect of emotional-regulation strategies. The sample included people aged ≥18 years from 32 provinces and regions in China (N = 3159). The inferential analyses included a set of multiple linear regressions with interactions. Our results showed that sharing timely, accurate, and positive COVID-19 information, reducing excessive discussions on COVID-19, and promoting caring online interactions rather than being judgmental, might positively associate with the general public’s psychological well-being. Additionally, the relationships between social media activities and psychological well-being varied at different emotion-regulation strategy levels. Adopting the cognitive reappraisal strategy might allay the adverse relationships between certain social media activities and mental health indicators. Our findings expanded the theory of how social media activities can be associated with a human being’s mental health and how it can interact with emotion-regulation strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Differentiate to Regulate: Low Negative Emotion Differentiation Is Associated With Ineffective Use but Not Selection of Emotion-Regulation Strategies

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elise K. Kalokerinos ◽  
Yasemin Erbas ◽  
Eva Ceulemans ◽  
Peter Kuppens
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Experience Sampling ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Emotion Differentiation ◽  
Sampling Studies ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Selection Of

Emotion differentiation, which involves experiencing and labeling emotions in a granular way, has been linked with well-being. It has been theorized that differentiating between emotions facilitates effective emotion regulation, but this link has yet to be comprehensively tested. In two experience-sampling studies, we examined how negative emotion differentiation was related to (a) the selection of emotion-regulation strategies and (b) the effectiveness of these strategies in downregulating negative emotion ( Ns = 200 and 101 participants and 34,660 and 6,282 measurements, respectively). Unexpectedly, we found few relationships between differentiation and the selection of putatively adaptive or maladaptive strategies. Instead, we found interactions between differentiation and strategies in predicting negative emotion. Among low differentiators, all strategies (Study 1) and four of six strategies (Study 2) were more strongly associated with increased negative emotion than they were among high differentiators. This suggests that low differentiation may hinder successful emotion regulation, which in turn supports the idea that effective regulation may underlie differentiation benefits.

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