Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
Introduction: Emotional dysfunction and dysregulation are defining features of affective disorders. People differ in their beliefs about how controllable and useful negative and positive emotions are, and the process model of emotion regulation postulates that such beliefs play a central role in...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2022
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| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93195 |
| Summary: | Introduction: Emotional dysfunction and dysregulation are defining features of affective disorders. People differ in
their beliefs about how controllable and useful negative and positive emotions are, and the process model of
emotion regulation postulates that such beliefs play a central role in determining how people progress from
emotion generation to regulation. In this study, we aimed to examine the direct and indirect effects among
emotion beliefs, emotion generation, and emotion regulation. We anticipated indirect effects between emotion
generation and regulation, via beliefs about emotions.
Methods: University students (N=509; 76.8% female; Mage=22.31) completed measures of emotion beliefs,
generation, and regulation. Direct and indirect effects were modelled.
Results: Across both positive and negative emotions, all facets of emotion generation (reactivity, intensity,
perseveration) demonstrated significant associations with emotion beliefs and/or regulation. As expected,
perseveration of negative emotion was associated with difficulties regulating negative emotions, and this effect
operated in part via stronger beliefs that negative emotions were uncontrollable and useless. Similarly, lower
reactivity of positive emotion was associated with difficulties regulating positive emotions, and this effect
operated in part via stronger beliefs that positive emotions were ncontrollable and useless.
Limitations: Our data were cross-sectional. Variables were assessed with trait questionnaires.
Conclusion: These results lend preliminary support to the hypothesised role of emotion beliefs in facilitating (or
hindering) the regulation of generated emotions, and highlight the importance of considering emotional valence.
Case conceptualisations and treatment protocols for emotional disorders may benefit from considering beliefs
about the controllability and usefulness of negative and positive emotions. |
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