Trait mindfulness and relationship mindfulness are indirectly related to sexual quality over time in dating relationships among emerging adults

Trait mindfulness is associated with sexual satisfaction, but their temporal relation is unexplored. Using a short-term longitudinal design, the present study not only examines their temporal relation but also extends extant research by also investigating relationship mindfulness and potential mechanisms that might account for any temporal relation that exists between the two forms of mindfulness and sexual quality. Participants were sexually active emerging adults ( N = 104) in romantic relationships who initially completed measures of trait and relationship mindfulness, and 6 weeks later measures of relationship satisfaction and difficulties in emotion regulation. After another 6 weeks, they completed a measure of sexual quality. Relationship mindfulness was related to sexual satisfaction 12 weeks later via relationship satisfaction, whereas trait mindfulness was related to later sexual dissatisfaction via difficulties in emotion regulation. These results suggest that the temporal relationship between mindfulness and sexual quality is indirect and more nuanced than previously thought. Several avenues for future research are suggested.

Children’s oppositional defiant disorder symptoms make parents difficult to be nice: Longitudinal association among parent emotion regulation, child emotion regulation and children’s oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in Chinese children with oppositional defiant disorder

The current study aims to clarify the longitudinal relations among parent emotion regulation (ER), child ER, and children’s oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. In the current study, parents of 275 children (195 boys, 70.1%) with ODD symptoms ( Mage = 9.32 years, SD = 1.64) reported their ER using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, child ERs using the Emotion Regulation Checklist, and children’s ODD symptoms using the eight symptoms indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) at three time points (T1, T2, and T3) within 2 years. Results indicated the longitudinal relationships between parent ER and children’s ODD symptoms were directly influenced by each other. Children’s ODD symptoms had important effects on both child ER and parent ER. Findings suggested that to reduce children’s ODD symptoms, it is necessary not only to improve child ER but also to improve parent ER.

The Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in the Correlation Between Attachment Styles and Childhood Trauma With Self-Harming Behaviors in Adolescents

Background: Self-harming behaviors are significantly associated with difficulty in emotion regulation. Attachment styles and childhood trauma increase the frequency and intensity of self-harming behaviors through disrupting emotion regulation. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation in the correlation between attachment styles and childhood trauma with self-harming behaviors in adolescents. Methods: The sample population included adolescents aged 15-18 years in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019. In total, 400 participants were selected via random sampling. Data were collected using instruments of difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), adult attachment questionnaire (AAQ), and childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). In addition, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the proposed model. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24 and AMOS version 23. Results: The proposed model had a good fit. Attachment styles with the mediation of difficulties in emotion regulation (β = 0.174) and childhood trauma with the mediation of difficulties in emotion regulation (β = 0.111) had an indirect, significant correlation with self-harming behaviors (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, attachment styles and childhood trauma affected self-harming behaviors through difficulties in emotion regulation. Therefore, their impact on self-harming behaviors could be reduced by improving emotion regulation in adolescents.

Emotion Regulation Choice in Internet Addiction: Less Reappraisal, Lower Frontal Alpha Asymmetry

Individuals with internet addiction (IA) show difficulties in emotion regulation. However, they could effectively employ emotion regulation strategies when instructed. We speculate that this discrepancy might be caused by maladaptive emotion regulation choices. Recent studies indicated that decreased activity of the left frontal cortex could be a neural marker of reappraisal use. To address this problem, individuals with IA ( n = 17, IA group) and healthy individuals ( n = 23, healthy control [HC] group) were required to choose an emotion regulation strategy between reappraisal and distraction to regulate their emotions varying in emotional intensity and valence. We also compared the resting state frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) of these 2 groups. The results replicated more choices of reappraisal in low- versus high-intensity emotional contexts across groups. More importantly, the IA group chose reappraisal less frequently compared with the HC group, irrespective of emotional intensity. Furthermore, we found individuals with IA have lower FAA than healthy controls, and FAA shows a positive correlation with the use of reappraisal. These findings suggest that IA alters individuals’ patterns of emotion regulation choice and impairs frontal activities, causing difficulties in emotion regulation.

Romantic Attachment and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation on Dyadic Adjustment: A Comprehensive Literature Review

In romantic relationships, individual differences are determinant factors for relational quality. Specifically, romantic attachment (RA) and difficulties in emotional regulation influence each other and may have predictive potential for the perceived dyadic adjustment (DA) level. This paper aims to identify the developmental parallel between behavioral patterns built since childhood and the construction of the emotional regulation skills that characterize them. Our analysis was based on the attachment theory and the concepts of romantic relationship and DA. In this way, we sought to further the understanding of relationship dynamics, beyond the usual focus on a single element and on associative relationships, and by exploring other effects among the different dimensions of relational functioning. In particular, we explored the predictive ability of emotional regulation patterns (more flexible individual characteristics) in discriminating between RA styles (more perennial influences), and their impact on the quality of romantic relationships, in the anticipation of dyadic adjustment variations.

Therapist Attachment and the Working Alliance: The Moderating Effect of Emotional Regulation

Objective: To explore whether the therapist’s emotional regulation strategies moderate the relationship between therapist attachment and the working alliance from the therapist’s perspective.Method: A non-experimental, descriptive correlational design was used. Sixty-three psychotherapists (6 men, 57 women) participated in this study, ranging in age from 27 to 69 years, with a mean age of 39.3 years. The therapists completed the Attachment evaluation questionnaire for adults, the Spanish Adaptation of the Working Alliance Inventory, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Associations between attachment and emotional regulation traits and working alliance were examined using multilevel modeling, controlling for therapist demographics, and clinical experience.Results: Moderation analyses revealed significant interaction effects between therapist attachment and emotional regulation strategies.Conclusion: Attachment styles would not significantly affect the therapist’s ability to establish an adequate therapeutic alliance bond. The results show that the attachment style of the therapists interacted with their emotional regulation abilities.

Mattering and Anti-Mattering in Emotion Regulation and Life Satisfaction: A Mediational Analysis of Stress and Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The current study focused primarily on the associations that feelings of not mattering have with life satisfaction, stress, and distress among students trying to cope with the uncertain and novel circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 350 University students from Italy completed measures that included the General Mattering Scale and the Anti-Mattering Scale, as well as measures of self-esteem, difficulties in emotion regulation, life satisfaction, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression. Psychometric analyses confirmed the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the General Mattering Scale and the Anti-Mattering Scale. As expected, feelings of not mattering were associated with lower life satisfaction as well as with greater reported difficulties in emotion regulation, stress, and distress. Mattering and self-esteem were both unique predictors of levels of life satisfaction during the pandemic. The results of mediational analyses suggested that individuals who feel as though they do not matter may be especially vulnerable to stress, depression, and anxiety and this may promote a decline in life satisfaction. Given the potential destructiveness of feelings of not mattering, in general but especially during a global pandemic, it is essential to proactively develop interventions and programs that are designed to enhance feelings of mattering and reduce anti-mattering experiences and feelings.

Math Anxiety Is Related to Math Difficulties and Composed of Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Predisposition: A Network Analysis Study

Current evidence suggests emotion regulation is an important factor in both math anxiety and math performance, but the interplay between these constructs is unexamined. Given the multicomponent structure of math anxiety, emotion regulation, and math performance, here, we aimed to provide a comprehensive model of the underlying nature of the links between these latent variables. Using the innovative network analysis approach, the study visualized the underlying links between directly observable and measurable variables that might be masked by traditional statistical approaches. One hundred and seventeen adults completed a battery of tests and questionnaires on math anxiety, emotion regulation, and math performance. The results revealed: (1) state math anxiety (the emotional experience in math-related situations), rather than trait math anxiety, was linked to anxiety predisposition, subjective valence of math information, and difficulties in emotion regulation; (2) the link between state math anxiety and math performance partialed out the link between trait math anxiety and performance. The study innovatively demonstrates the need to differentiate between traits and tendencies to the actual emotional experience and emotion regulation used in math anxiety. The results have important implications for the theoretical understanding of math anxiety and future discussions and work in the field.

Pathological gamblers profiles according to impulsivity and emotional regulation

This study aims to examine relationship between age, gambling behaviour, dysfunctional psychological symptoms, and other comorbid addictive behaviours. Secondly, it aims to study the differences between the aforementioned variables according to gambler profiles based on impulsivity and emotional regulation. A sample of 95 participants conformed the clinical sample (93.5% men and 6.5% women). Results suggest that difficulties in emotion regulation and impulsivity are associated with gambling disorder, video game abuse, and dysfunctional psychological symptomatology. Likewise, two clusters have been observed, the first one is composed of participants with fewer difficulties in emotion regulation, less psychopathological severity, and greater impulsivity. The second cluster is composed of participants with greater difficulties in emotion regulation, as well as greater psychopathological and gambling severity. These results highlight the relevance of understanding different gambler profiles in order to design prevention and treatment strategies adapted to each person.