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...

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Main Authors: Preece, David, Hasking, Penelope, Boyes, Mark, Clarke, Patrick, Kiekens, G., Myin-Germeys, I., Notebaert, L., Gross, J.J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2022
Online Access:http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93195
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author Preece, David
Hasking, Penelope
Boyes, Mark
Clarke, Patrick
Kiekens, G.
Myin-Germeys, I.
Notebaert, L.
Gross, J.J.
author_facet Preece, David
Hasking, Penelope
Boyes, Mark
Clarke, Patrick
Kiekens, G.
Myin-Germeys, I.
Notebaert, L.
Gross, J.J.
author_sort Preece, David
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description 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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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-931952023-10-03T08:03:27Z Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs Preece, David Hasking, Penelope Boyes, Mark Clarke, Patrick Kiekens, G. Myin-Germeys, I. Notebaert, L. Gross, J.J. 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. 2022 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93195 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100351 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ fulltext
spellingShingle Preece, David
Hasking, Penelope
Boyes, Mark
Clarke, Patrick
Kiekens, G.
Myin-Germeys, I.
Notebaert, L.
Gross, J.J.
Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title_full Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title_fullStr Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title_full_unstemmed Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title_short Emotion generation and emotion regulation: The role of emotion beliefs
title_sort emotion generation and emotion regulation: the role of emotion beliefs
url http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93195