Emotional regulation
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers for "emotional regulation"
Consensus Meter
Emotional Regulation: Insights from Recent Research
Understanding Emotional Regulation Strategies
Meta-Analytic Examination of Emotion Regulation Strategies
Emotion regulation (ER) encompasses various strategies individuals use to manage their emotional experiences. A comprehensive meta-analysis identified three primary factors underlying common ER strategies: Disengagement, Aversive Cognitive Perseveration, and Adaptive Engagement. Disengagement and Aversive Cognitive Perseveration are distinct but strongly correlated, with the latter including maladaptive strategies like rumination and worry. Adaptive Engagement, which includes strategies like acceptance and mindfulness, is less unified and weakly related to the other two factors. Distress tolerance, an important ER ability, is closely associated with low levels of repetitive negative thought and experiential avoidance, and high levels of acceptance and mindfulness.
Emotion Regulation as a Transdiagnostic Construct
Role Across Various Psychopathologies
ER difficulties are central to the development and maintenance of various psychopathologies, including anxiety, depression, substance use, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. A systematic review of 67 studies found that effective psychological interventions significantly reduce maladaptive ER strategies and overall emotion dysregulation across these disorders. This supports the conceptualization of ER as a transdiagnostic construct, suggesting that improving ER can lead to symptom reduction across multiple disorders.
Developmental Aspects of Emotional Regulation
Biological and Environmental Influences
ER develops through a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic processes. Biological foundations, such as individual differences in regulatory tendencies, play a crucial role. Extrinsic influences, including parental intervention strategies, selective reinforcement, and modeling, significantly impact early ER development. As children grow, the emergence of language, cognitive skills, and self-understanding further enhance their ER capacities. Adolescents develop a "theory of personal emotion," which aids in sophisticated emotional self-regulation.
Process Model of Emotion Regulation
Stages and Strategies
The process model of ER outlines five families of strategies based on when they impact the emotion generation process. These stages include identifying the need for regulation, selecting a strategy, implementing it, and monitoring its success. Cognitive reappraisal, a strategy involving changing one's thoughts about a situation to alter its emotional impact, is highlighted as generally effective and adaptive. However, its success and frequency are influenced by individual and environmental factors.
Enhancing Emotion Regulation in Therapy
Therapeutic Methods and Outcomes
Therapists use various methods to enhance ER, including affect-focused techniques and structured psychoeducation. A meta-analysis of 38 studies found that these methods lead to significant improvements in ER from pre- to post-treatment. Both immediate and intermediate outcomes show positive effects, suggesting that therapists should consider cultural backgrounds and adaptive versus maladaptive strategies when working with clients.
Emotion Regulation and Well-Being
Impact on Mental Health
ER is not only related to psychopathology but also to overall well-being. A meta-analysis of 35 studies found that adaptive strategies like reappraisal and acceptance are positively associated with well-being, while maladaptive strategies like avoidance and rumination are negatively associated. Overall deficits in ER show a moderate negative correlation with well-being, indicating the importance of improving ER to enhance mental health.
Emotion Regulation and Psychological Resilience
Link to Resilience
Enhanced ER is positively associated with psychological resilience, facilitating both emotion- and problem-focused coping. Specific ER strategies vary in their effectiveness depending on contextual factors, such as the intensity of emotion-eliciting situations. This relationship underscores the importance of ER in promoting resilience and healthy functioning.
Conclusion
Emotion regulation is a multifaceted construct with significant implications for psychological health and well-being. Understanding the underlying strategies, developmental aspects, and therapeutic methods can inform more effective interventions and promote resilience across various contexts. As research continues to evolve, integrating these insights will be crucial for advancing both theoretical and practical applications in the field of psychology.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic