The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary Emotional Systems and Emotional Regulation

(1) Background: The COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a unique challenge as a severe global crisis affecting physical and psychological health. The main purpose of this work is to study the impact of a traumatic event while also observing the human ability to adapt. One of the first theories to study the adaptive importance of the evolutionary lineage of the affective systems is referred to as BrainMind (Panksepp, 2010). This study aims to explore whether primary emotional systems (PES) and emotion regulation (ER) strategies show differences between the pre- and post- lockdown period; and if positive systems and specific emotion regulation pre-pandemic act as a protective or risk factor for mental and physical wellbeing. (2) Methods: 98 participants who had participated in a previous study before the pandemic were re-contacted to refill the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) after the outbreak of the pandemic with the addition of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90R). (3) Results: The results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown rules had an impact on Emotional Regulation and on a re-balancing of PES. Moreover, pre-pandemic expressive–suppressive ERQ strategies and ANPS SADNESS scores appeared as relevant risk factors, which predicted higher Global Severity Index (GSI) scores during lockdown. (4) Conclusions: The lockdown appears to have activated PLAY and CARE as protective systems, but has detuned the ability to positively reinterpret the situation.

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Optimizing Performance and Mental Skills With Mindfulness-Based Attention Training: Two Field Studies With Operational Units

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usab380 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Thomas H Nassif ◽

Amanda L Adrian ◽

Ian A Gutierrez ◽

Alexis C Dixon ◽

Scott L Rogers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Short Form ◽

High Stress ◽

Mindfulness Practice ◽

Operational Performance ◽

Attention Training ◽

Mental Skills ◽

Attentional Lapses ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACT Introduction Mental skills such as focusing attention and managing emotions are essential for optimal performance in high-stress occupations. Studies with military samples have demonstrated that mindfulness training (MT) led to improved computer-based cognitive performance. Materials and Methods To examine the impact of MT on operational performance, mental skills, and psychological health, a short-form program, Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT), was delivered to active duty soldiers as part of two randomized trials. Participants in study 1 (n = 121) and study 2 (n = 77) were randomized to one of three conditions: MT with proctored practice, MT with unproctored practice, or a waitlist control. Weekly 2-hour MBAT sessions were offered to participants in both MT conditions for 4 weeks. Beyond these sessions, participants also engaged in mindfulness practice that was proctored (within the occupational context) or unproctored (left up to the individual) for four subsequent weeks. Results Overall, the frequency of mindfulness practice was generally associated with better performance and improvements in mental skills. In study 1, those who practiced 3 or more days per week performed better on marksmanship under physical stress and reported fewer attentional lapses, less emotion regulation difficulties, greater mental toughness, and higher self-reported mindfulness compared to those who did not practice. In study 2, the frequency of mindfulness practice was associated with fewer attentional lapses and emotion regulation difficulties. Conclusions Consistent with prior findings, results suggest that regular engagement in MT practice may help to optimize operational performance and improve mental skills in military cohorts.

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Mixed Results on the Efficacy of the CharacterMe Smartphone App to Improve Self-Control, Patience, and Emotional Regulation Competencies in Adolescents

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.586713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah A. Schnitker ◽

Jennifer Shubert ◽

Juliette L. Ratchford ◽

Matt Lumpkin ◽

Benjamin J. Houltberg

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Behavioral Intervention ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Self Control ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Psychological Interventions ◽

User Engagement ◽

Social Emotional ◽

Changes Over Time ◽

The Impact

Unprecedented levels of access to adolescents' time and attention provide opportunities to convert traditional character and socioemotional competencies interventions into behavioral intervention technologies. However, these new tools must be evaluated rather than assuming previously validated activities will be efficacious when converted to a mobile platform. Thus, we sought to design and provide initial data on the effectiveness of the CharacterMe smartphone app to build self-control and patience, which are built on underlying social-emotional regulation competencies, in a sample of 618 adolescents (Mage = 16.07, Female = 56.6%). We also sought to examine whether framing the app activities as having a transcendent (spiritual connection or moral/prosocial) rather than instrumental purpose would increase engagement and change in self-control, patience, and emotion regulation. Finally, we tested the impact of framing activities as building strengths vs. fixing weaknesses. Results highlight the difficulty of translating psychological interventions to behavioral intervention technologies. Overall, the CharacterMe smartphone app was unsuccessful in increasing self-control, patience, or emotion regulation in adolescents, with analyses showing no significant mean changes over time. Framing conditions and user engagement were largely not significant predictors of change in self-control, patience, and emotion regulation.

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Older Adults Living With Food Insecurity: The Impact on Psychological Health

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1218 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 378-378

Author(s):

Robina Sandhu ◽

Victoria Marshall ◽

Carolyn Becker ◽

Lisa Kilpela ◽

Keesha Middlemass

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Weight Stigma ◽

Male Gender ◽

Self Report ◽

The Past ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

Abstract Food insecurity (FI) refers to inadequate access to nutritious foods, either in terms of quality or quantity. In older adults, FI is associated with functional impairment, isolation, financial vulnerability, lower quality of life, and poorer health (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease; Fernandes, et al). The effects of FI on psychological health broadly, however, have not been well-documented among older adults. This study sought to examine the impact of FI severity on psychological health indices among older adults. Older adult clients of local food pantries completed self-report measures of FI severity, worry, internalized weight stigma, trauma history, and eating disorder (ED) symptoms/behaviors. Participants (N=124, aged 66+) included: 68.5% women, 67.7% Hispanic, 75.8% □high school education, 51.0% household income < $10,000/year. Controlling for gender in all analyses, results indicated that FI severity predicted increased worry (p < .001, 21.9% variance), greater internalized weight stigma (p = .04, 3.9% variance), and a trend for increased risk for lifetime traumatic event exposure (OR = 1.4, 95% CI [.98, 2.01]). Regarding ED symptoms, male gender (OR = 6.60, 95% CI [1.96, 22.23] and higher FI severity predicted risk for self-induced vomiting in the past month (OR = 2.5, 95% CI [1.15, 5.36], risk for laxative/diuretic use for weight control (OR = 2.16, 95% CI [1.03, 4.52], and greater dietary restraint (p < .001, 16.1% variance). Male gender was associated with higher risk for binge eating in the past month (OR = 3.19, 95% CI [1.10, 9.24], while FI severity was not. Implications will be discussed.

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Bedtime Procrastination as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Active Emotion Regulation Strategies and Insomnia

Journal of Sleep Medicine ◽

10.13078/jsm.210023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 175-181

Author(s):

Goeun Kim ◽

Huisu Jeon ◽

Sooyeon Suh

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Severity Index ◽

Mediating Effect ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Bedtime Procrastination ◽

The Relationship ◽

Insomnia Severity

Objectives: Bedtime procrastination (BP) is defined as the behavior of voluntarily postponing bedtime without having external reasons for doing so. According to previous studies, people with reduced use of active emotion regulation strategies may use BP to cope with negative emotions. However, research about the relationship among active emotional regulation strategies, BP, and insomnia is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of BP between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity.Methods: In total, 597 adults (female, 81.9%; mean age, 23.18±2.80 years) completed the Emotional Regulation Strategies Checklist, Insomnia Severity Index, and Bedtime Procrastination Scale.Results: There was a significant association between active emotional regulation strategies and BP (r=-0.152, p<0.01), between BP and insomnia severity (r=0.259, p<0.01), and between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity (r=-0.128, p<0.01). BP significantly mediated the relationship between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity (B=-0.024; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.04 to -0.01).Conclusions: BP may be considered in the relationship between active emotional regulation strategies and insomnia severity. Understanding the mediating role of BP may help prevent insomnia.

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The use of the Adaptive and the Maladaptive Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies by Nurses Student in Morocco Facing to the Patient Death in a Clinical Setting

Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal ◽

10.13005/bpj/1626 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 175-181

Author(s):

Lahcen Bandadi ◽

Nadia Chamkal ◽

Siham Belbachir ◽

Ahmed O. T. Ahami

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Clinical Setting ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽

Patient Death ◽

Self Blame ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study is to describe the adaptive and the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies used by nurse’s student having experienced the death of a patient in a clinical setting. The study was conducted in the Institute of Nursing and Technical Health of Rabat in Morocco. To carry out this study, 64 nurses student from license cycle have recruited (56,2% female, 43,8% male). 37,5% nurses student are from semester two and 62,5% are from the final semester (S6). The mean age is 20,33±1,67. The tool used to conduct this study is the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire. For the all group, the students use less the adaptive cognitive regulation strategies. However we could say that the use of maladptaive cognitive emotion regulation strategies is in the norms. There was significant difference between males and females in terms of catastrophizing (p<0,001), self-blame (p=0,01), rumination (p=0,04) with a high scores among females. Compared to the nurses student from the semester two, the nurses student from the final semester had law self-blame, law catastrophizing, law rumination, and high positive refocusing. The study shows that, facing to the death, nurses student underutilized the adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The use of the maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies is in the norms. However, significant differences related to the gender and to the study level were observed. These results show the great interest of intervention to promote the cognitive emotion regulation strategies while taking into account the gender approach. Other studies are also essential to deepen this aspect to see the impact of its strategies on nurses students' psychological health as well as on their performance.

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The relationship between coping, emotion regulation, and quality of life of patients on dialysis

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine ◽

10.1177/0091217417720893 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 111-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nadia Barberis ◽

Valeria Cernaro ◽

Sebastiano Costa ◽

Gaetano Montalto ◽

Silvia Lucisano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽

Avoidance Strategies ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Previous studies have investigated constructs that facilitate adaptation to chronic disease and improve quality of life and constructs that lead to psychopathological complications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of coping and emotional regulation on the quality of life of patients on dialysis. Three questionnaires were administered to 78 patients on dialysis: Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced, Short Form (36), and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Regressions analyses indicated that age, Rumination, Positive Refocusing, Avoidance Strategies, Approach to the Problem, and Transcendent Orientation predicted Physical Health. With regard to Mental Health, the predictors were gender, Self-Blame, Acceptance, Rumination, Positive Reappraisal, Catastrophizing, Avoidance Strategies, and Transcendent Orientation. This study confirms the relationship between emotional regulation, coping, and quality of life. The results highlight the need for total care of the patients, including an assessment of both physical state and psychological functioning in order to promote total well-being.

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The Importance of Coping and Emotion Regulation in the Occurrence of Suicidal Behavior

Psychological Reports ◽

10.1177/0033294118781855 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 122 (4) ◽

pp. 1192-1210 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elsie Ong ◽

Catherine Thompson

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Asian Students ◽

Avoidance Coping ◽

Expressive Suppression ◽

The Impact

Research has shown that the use of maladaptive coping strategies and difficulties in regulating mood are linked to increasing risk of suicide. This study measured the impact of coping and emotion regulation on suicidal behavior in a sample of Asian students. The aim was to determine whether different coping strategies and methods of expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal would be associated with suicidal behavior. One hundred and twenty undergraduate students were recruited from The Open University in Hong Kong and all completed questionnaires that measured coping, emotional regulation, and suicidal behavior. The results showed that increased avoidance coping was associated with increased suicidal behavior, whereas increased cognitive reappraisal was associated with reduced risk of suicidal behavior. Specifically, in an Asian student population, avoidance coping appears to be a risk factor for suicide, while cognitive reappraisal may be seen as a positive, protecting strategy.

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Creating Trauma-Informed Schools

10.1093/oso/9780190873806.001.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eileen A. Dombo ◽

Christine Anlauf Sabatino

Keyword(s):

Social Workers ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

School Social Workers ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

Trauma Informed Care ◽

Trauma Informed ◽

The Impact

Creating Trauma-Informed Schools: A Guide for School Social Workers and Educators provides concrete skills and current knowledge about trauma-informed services in school settings. Children at all educational levels, from Early Head Start settings through high school, are vulnerable to abuse, neglect, bullying, violence in their homes and neighborhoods, and other traumatic experiences. Research shows that upward of 70% of children in schools report experiencing at least one traumatic event before age 16. The correlation between high rates of trauma exposure and poor academic performance has been established in the scholarly literature, as has the need for trauma-informed schools and communities. School social workers are on the front lines of service delivery through their work with children who face social and emotional struggles in the pursuit of education. They are in a prime position for preventing and addressing trauma, but there are scant resources for social workers to assist in the creation of trauma-informed schools. This book will provide an overview of the impact of trauma on children and adolescents, as well as interventions for direct practice and collaboration with teachers, families, and communities. Readers of this book will discover valuable resources and distinct examples of how to implement the ten principles of trauma-informed services in their schools to provide trauma-informed care to students grounded in the principles of safety, connection, and emotional regulation. They will also gain beneficial skills for self-care in their work.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychological Health and Insomnia among People with Chronic Diseases

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10061206 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1206

Author(s):

Paweł Wańkowicz ◽

Aleksandra Szylińska ◽

Iwona Rotter

Keyword(s):

Chronic Diseases ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Severity Index ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Hashimoto’S Disease ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Hashimoto's Disease ◽

The Impact

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic highlighted the serious problems of health care systems but also threatened the mental and physical health of patients worldwide. The goal of this study was to assess psychological health and insomnia in people with chronic diseases in the time of elevated stress associated with the pandemic. The study involved 879 people from Zachodniopomorskie province in Poland. Each participant provided basic demographic data, data on symptoms of insomnia, depression, anxiety and information on concomitant diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, heart failure, dyslipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Hashimoto’s disease and smoking cigarettes. Chronic diseases included in this study showed a strong correlation between Hashimoto’s disease and increase scores according to the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI, r = 0.797, p < 0.001), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7, r = 0.766, p < 0.001) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, r = 0.767, p < 0.001). After the results were corrected for age, gender, diagnosed hypertension, dyslipidemia and cigarette smoking, it was confirmed that the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease was associated with an increased risk of anxiety (odds ratio (OR) = 2.225; p < 0.001), depression (OR = 2.518; p < 0.001) and insomnia (OR = 3.530; p < 0.001). Our study showed that during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic patients with Hashimoto’s disease show a higher risk of insomnia, anxiety and depression.

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Peran Regulasi Emosi Terhadap Prokrastinasi Akademik pada Siswa Kelas VIII SMP

Indonesian Journal of Guidance and Counseling: Theory and Application ◽

10.15294/ijgc.v8i2.19693 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 119-124

Author(s):

Giandra Ogy Pratama

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Emotional Regulation ◽

Random Sampling ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Information Services ◽

Assessment Scale ◽

Academic Procrastination ◽

Analysis Techniques ◽

The Impact ◽

Cluster Random Sampling

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh regulasi emosi terhadap prokrastinasi akademik siswa. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian korelasional dengan 139 sampel yang diperoleh menggunakan cluster random sampling. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisi regresi. Pengumpulan data menggunakan PASS (Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students) dan ERQ (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire) dengan reliabilitas 0,725 dan 0,694. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ada pengaruh antara regulasi emosi dengan prokrastinasi akademik (R=0,18 F(4,580)=1,137, p<0,05) sebesar 3,2%. Secara khusus regulasi emosi dengan tipe reappraisal berkorelasi dengan prokrastinasi akademik siswa dengan koefisien (β= -0,180, p<0,05). Sementara regulasi emosi dengan tipe suppression tidak berkorelasi dengan prokarstinasi akademik siswa dengan koefisien (β= -0,067, p>0,05). Simpulan dari penelitian ini bahwa tingkat regulasi emosi secara keseluruhan dan prokrastinasi akademik berada pada kategori tinggi dan “ada hubungan antara regulasi emosi dan prokrastinasi akademik pada siswa”. Saran dari penelitian ini adalah bahwa penurunan prokrastinasi akademik siswa dapat dilakukan dengan melatih keterampilan dalam mengendalikan emosi, dan memberikan layanan informasi kepada siswa tentang dampak prokrastinasi akademik. This study aims to determine the effect of emotional regulation on student academic procrastination. This study is a correlational study with 139 samples obtained using cluster random sampling. Data analysis techniques use regression analysis. Data collection using PASS (Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students) and ERQ (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire) with reliability 0,725 and 0,694. The results showed that there was an influence between emotional regulation and academic procrastination (R = 0.18 F (4.580) = 1.137, p <0.05) of 3.2%. In particular, emotional regulation with reappraisal type correlated with student academic procrastination with coefficient (β = -0,180, p <0.05). While emotional regulation with suppression type is not correlated with student academic procarstination with coefficient (β = -0.067, p> 0,05). The conclusion of this study is that the level of overall emotional regulation and academic procrastination are in the high category and "there is a relationship between emotional regulation and academic procrastination in students". The suggestion of this research is that the decrease in student academic procrastination can be done by exercising skills in controlling emotions, and providing information services to students about the impact of academic procrastination.

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