A preliminary examination of age differences in the use of emotion regulation strategies: Focusing on interpersonal strategies

Recent research has emphasized age differences in emotion regulation strategies. However, not much is known about age differences in the use of different regulation strategies during a highly distressing film scene that evokes strong negative emotions of anger and sadness. Therefore, we examined age differences in four situation-specific emotion regulation strategies – namely, rumination, distraction, suppression, and mediality (a form of media-specific reappraisal). A sample of 99 older and 108 younger participants reported their current emotional state, then watched a highly distressing film scene, and finally reported their emotional reactions to the scene and the emotion regulation strategies they used. The manipulation check indicated that the film was successful in eliciting strong negative emotions of sadness and anger. Furthermore, after securing measurement invariance, we found that older adults reported higher scores in mediality and suppression than younger adults. No differences were found concerning distraction and rumination. Results are discussed in the light of theoretical considerations.

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Age Differences in Emotion-Regulation Strategies in Handling Everyday Problems

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/59.6.p261 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 59 (6) ◽

pp. P261-P269 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

F. Blanchard-Fields ◽

R. Stein ◽

T. L. Watson

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Age Differences ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Everyday Problems

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Gender and age differences in emotion regulation strategies and their relationship to depressive symptoms

Personality and Individual Differences ◽

10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.012 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 51 (6) ◽

pp. 704-708 ◽

Cited By ~ 258

Author(s):

Susan Nolen-Hoeksema ◽

Amelia Aldao

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Age Differences ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Gender And Age Differences

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Age differences among older adults in the use of emotion regulation strategies. What happens among over 85s and centenarians?

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607863.2015.1050995 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 974-980 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Igone Etxeberria ◽

Itziar Etxebarria ◽

Elena Urdaneta ◽

Jose Javier Yanguas

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Age Differences ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Regulation Strategies

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Age Differences in Beliefs About Emotion Regulation Strategies

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby022 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 316-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kimberly M Livingstone ◽

Vanessa L Castro ◽

Derek M Isaacowitz

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Age Differences ◽

Process Model ◽

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Well Being ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Regulation Strategies

Abstract Objectives Age shifts in emotion regulation may be rooted in beliefs about different strategies. We test whether there are age differences in the beliefs people hold about specific emotion regulation strategies derived from the process model of emotion regulation and whether profiles of emotion beliefs vary by age. Method An adult life-span sample (N = 557) sorted 13 emotion regulation strategies either by (a) how effective the strategies would be or (b) how likely they would be to use them, in 15 negative emotion-eliciting situations. Results Younger adults ranked attentional and cognitive distraction more effective than older adults, and preferred avoidance, distraction, and rumination more (and attentional deployment less) than middle-aged and older adults. Latent profile analysis on preferences identified three distinct strategy profiles: Classically adaptive regulators preferred a variety of strategies; situation modifiers showed strong preferences for changing situations; a small percentage of people preferred avoidance and rumination. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than younger adults to be classically adaptive regulators (as opposed to situation modifiers or avoiders/ruminators). Discussion These findings provide insight into the reasons people of different ages may select and implement different emotion regulation strategies, which may influence their emotional well-being.

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Exploring Particular Facets of Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Their Relationships With Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000566 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 280-286 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nir Madjar ◽

Nicole Segal ◽

Gilad Eger ◽

Gal Shoval

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

High School Students ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽

Cognitive Emotion Regulation ◽

School Students ◽

Self Injury ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

Nonsuicidal Self Injury

Abstract. Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been found to be associated with poor emotion regulation. Aims: The goal of this study was to examine the association of multidimensional cognitive emotion regulation strategies with NSSI among adolescents and compare the different patterns of NSSI. Method: A sample of 594 high-school students (54.4% boys; mean age = 14.96 years), from five regional schools across Israel, were assessed for five facets of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (acceptance, refocus on planning, positive refocusing, putting into perspective, and positive reappraisal) and NSSI behaviors using validated scales. Participants were allocated into three groups: repetitive NSSI (more than six occasions of NSSI; 7.1%), occasional NSSI (at least one incident but less than six; 8.3%), and no NSSI (84.6%). Results: Analysis of covariance, controlling for gender and depression symptoms, revealed that students with NSSI reported higher levels of acceptance, but lower levels of refocus on planning and putting into perspective. Limitations: The study used a cross-sectional design, which was a limitation. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that particular cognitive emotion regulation strategies differ substantially in their relationship with NSSI. Adolescents who focus on planning and putting stressful situations into perspective may have increased resilience, whereas adolescents who are accepting of negative events that have happened may be more prone to maladaptive coping behaviors.

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