Negative family expressiveness and adolescents' externalizing problems: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia as a moderator and anger regulation as a mediator.

Family environment, emotion regulation and biological sensitivity have been shown to be associated with adolescents' externalizing problem behaviours. However, findings regarding respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) reactivity are mixed and sometimes contradictory. This study aims to clarify the roles of RSA reactivity and anger regulation in the relationship between negative family expressiveness (NFE) and adolescents' externalizing behaviour by measuring RSA reactivity during the Parent-Adolescent Interaction Task (PAIT), designed to simulate a naturalistic negative family environment. In this study, 125 Chinese adolescents (M = 13.95 years, SD = 0.95; 48% male) completed questionnaires assessing negative family expressiveness, anger regulation and externalizing problems. Additionally, we collected electrocardiogram and respiration data during both the resting period and a 10-min PAIT. Results showed that anger regulation mediated the relationship between NFE and externalizing problem behaviours. Moreover, adolescents' RSA reactivity moderated this mediation effect, even after controlling for baseline RSA. Greater RSA suppression potentially indicated greater susceptibility, with the relationship between NFE and anger regulation being more pronounced in adolescents with greater RSA suppression compared to those with lesser RSA suppression. These findings highlight the importance of considering physiological systems, especially within the context of adverse family environments, when studying the relationships with externalizing problems.

The relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and solution-focused thinking in nursing students.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotion regulation difficulty and solution-focused thinking in nursing students. BACKGROUND: It is essential for nursing students to possess solution-focused thinking and emotion regulation skills to cope effectively with stressors arising from their developmental processes, the nature of education and the profession. This is crucial for enhancing the quality of nursing care. DESIGN: The study design was cross-sectional descriptive and correlational design. METHODS: The convenience sample of the study consisted of 416 nursing students. The research was conducted between January 20 and February 15, 2024. Data were collected in Türkiye with the difficulties in emotion regulation scale-brief form and the solution focused inventory. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: An increase of 1 unit in the level of emotion regulation difficulty was associated with a decrease of 0.236 units in participant resource activation and 0.524 units in problem disengagement (p<.001). An increase of 1 unit in the level of emotion regulation difficulty was also associated with an increase of 0.876 units in participant goal orientation (p<.001). Grade point average, grade and age were identified as factors influencing the sub-dimensions of solution-focused thinking (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that emotion regulation difficulty is an important predictor of solution-focused thinking in nursing students. Therefore, students' emotion regulation difficulties and solution-focused thinking should be evaluated by academic nurses from the beginning of students' enrollment. Also, it is recommended that intervention programs focusing on developing emotion regulation and solution-focused thinking skills for nursing students should be included and implemented in the nursing curriculum.

Mapping Emotion Regulation Patterns Within the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders Personality Traits.

Personality pathology is associated with emotional problems that are potentially attributable to problematic emotion regulation strategy patterns. We evaluated the emotion regulation strategies associated with the pathological personality traits in the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD). A total of 504 participants completed measures of AMPD traits and strategy usage, which were analyzed using hierarchical regressions and latent profile analysis (LPA). Regression results demonstrated that each trait was associated with a unique strategy pattern: negative affect with emotional overengagement, detachment with socialemotional avoidance, antagonism with emotional externalization/avoidance, disinhibition with emotional avoidance and overengagement, and psychoticism with strategies linked to psychotic/dissociative experiences. The LPA identified three profiles with heightened AMPD traits: an internalizing/distressed profile, an externalizing/distressed profile, and a schizoid-schizotypal profile; each had a unique strategy pattern that varied depending on trait composition. This research highlights the relevance of emotion regulation strategy patterns in the assessment, conceptualization, and treatment of personality pathology.

An explorative study on consequences of abuse on psychological wellbeing and cognitive outcomes in victims of gender-based violence.

Background: The issue of gender-based violence has been a public health problem for years. Considering its systemic nature, the possible consequences at the individual level on the psychological and cognitive wellbeing of victims have been examined. The present research aims to explore the differences in the various types and forms of violence. Methods: A non-probability and convenience sample was used; a total of 83 participants joined the research. Inclusion criteria were minimum age of 18 years, female gender, and knowledge of the Italian language. Two non-parametric One-Way ANOVAs (Kruskal-Wallis) were performed according to the type of violence experienced and the type of self-reported abuse (i.e., no victimization, single victimization, complex victimization). Results and discussion: Results showed that victims of violence scored higher overall than non-victims on all subscales of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Analyses among the three groups-no violence, single violence, and complex violence-showed no differences in any of the dimensions between those who experienced single and complex violence, while differences emerged between the "no victimization" group and the other groups. The results were discussed in relation to the existing literature on the topic, highlighting the limitations and future applications of the collected data.

Distinct patterns of hippocampal subfield volumes predict coping strategies, emotion regulation, and impulsivity in healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that the hippocampus (HC) is involved in cognitive and behavioral functions beyond memory. We aimed to investigate how the volume of each subfield of the HC is associated with distinct patterns of coping strategies, emotion regulation, and impulsivity in a healthy population. METHODS: We studied a total of 218 healthy subjects using the Leipzig mind-brain-body dataset. Participants were assessed for coping strategies, emotion regulation, and impulsivity using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS), and Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System (BAS/BIS). The associations between HC subfield volumes including CA1, CA2/3, CA4/DG, SR-SL-SM, and subiculum, and behavioral scores were examined using multiple linear regression models adjusted for possible confounders, including age, sex, years of education, handedness, total intracranial volume (ICV), and HC volume. RESULTS: The use of emotional support, venting, and positive reframing coping strategies were significantly and positively correlated with total, total right, and total left HC volumes. Venting was significantly associated with CA1 after adjusting for age, sex, handedness, and education (P=0.001, B = 0.265, P-FDR = 0.005). No significant association was observed between CERQ subscales and HC subfield volumes after controlling for confounders and multiple analyses. However, sensation-seeking subscale of the UPPS-P was positively correlated with total and right CA2-CA3 volumes after adjustments for age, sex, handedness, ICV, and HC volumes (P=0.002, B = 0.266, P-FDR = 0.035). BAS and BIS subscales did not show significant relationship with HC subfield volumes. CONCLUSION: Patterns of HC subfields volumes are associated with coping strategies, impulsivity, and emotion regulation. In particular, using emotional support, positive reframing, venting, and sensation seeking are significantly associated with certain HC subfield volumes. These findings suggest that the hippocampus may play a crucial role in modulating emotional responses and behavioral adaptations, offering potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

The League: A person-centred approach to the development of social robotics for paediatric anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Social robots are promising tools to improve the quality of life of children and youth living with anxiety and should be developed based on the priorities of end users. However, pathways to include young people in patient-oriented research, particularly in the overlap between technology and mental health, have been historically limited. OBJECTIVE: In this work, we describe engagement with experts with lived experiences of paediatric anxiety in a social robotics research programme. We report the experiences of patient advisors in a co-creation process and identify considerations for other research groups looking to involve end users in technology development in the field of youth mental health. DESIGN: We engaged individuals with a lived experience of paediatric anxiety (current, recent past, or from a parent perspective) using three different models over the course of three years. Two initial patient partners were involved during project development, eight were engaged as part of an advisory panel ('the League') during study development and data analysis and four contributed as ongoing collaborators in an advisory role. League members completed a preparticipation expectation survey and a postparticipation experience survey. FINDINGS: Eight individuals from a range of anxiety-related diagnostic groups participated in the League as patient partners. Members were teenagers (n = 3), young adults aged 22-26 years who had connected with a youth mental health service as children within the past eight years (n = 3) or parents of children presently living with anxiety (n = 2). Preferred methods of communication, expectations and reasons for participating were collected. The League provided specific and actionable feedback on the design of workshops on the topic of social robotics, which was implemented. They reported that their experiences were positive and fairly compensated, but communication and sustained engagement over time were challenges. Issues of ethics and language related to patient-centred brain health technology research are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: There is an ethical imperative to meaningfully incorporate the voices of youth and young adults with psychiatric conditions in the development of devices intended to support their mental health and quality of life. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Six young people and two parents with lived experiences of paediatric anxiety participated in all stages of developing a research programme on social robotics to support paediatric mental health in a community context. They also provided input during the preparation of this manuscript.

Anxiety and fear of cancer recurrence as predictors of subsequent pain interference in early cancer survivorship: Exploring the moderating roles of cognitive and emotional factors.

Following treatment, cancer survivors often experience pain that negatively impacts their quality of life. Although both anxiety and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) have been shown to exacerbate pain interference, less is known about either the temporal relationship between anxiety/FCR and pain interference or modifiable cognitive/emotional factors that might moderate that relationship among cancer survivors. This longitudinal study aims to advance our understanding of the impact of both anxiety and FCR following primary cancer treatment on subsequent pain interference. We also examined potentially modifiable moderators (i.e., cancer-related illness beliefs and emotion regulation difficulties) of the relationship between anxiety/FCR and subsequent pain interference. Adults (N = 397; 67% female; Mage = 59.1 years) diagnosed with breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer completed self-report measures at baseline (average of 2.5 months following treatment completion) and at 6-month follow-up. Both greater anxiety and FCR not only predicted subsequent pain interference, but also predicted increases in pain interference over time. Additionally, complex interaction patterns were observed between anxiety and the potential moderators on pain interference. Specifically, lower Personal Control beliefs and higher Consequences beliefs were associated with greater pain interference for those with lower levels of anxiety/FCR. Emotion regulation difficulties also moderated the anxiety-pain interference link (i.e., was more strongly associated with greater pain interference at lower levels of anxiety), but not the FCR-pain link. Chronicity beliefs did not interact with anxiety or FCR in predicting pain interference. This study advances our understanding of the role of anxiety/FCR on pain interference over time as well as potential psychological treatment targets for individuals at greater risk for longer-term pain following cancer treatment.

Emotion Regulation, Relationship and Therapeutic Change in Analytical Psychology and Contemporary Psychodynamic Approaches.

All contemporary psychotherapies agree that (failing) emotion regulation is central to psychological disorders and that psychotherapy is about improving emotion regulation. In his research on the "emotion-laden" complex Jung put an emphasis on the role of failing emotion regulation in contributing to psychological disorders as well as to change in the process of psychotherapy, but he left this field of research and took a very different direction in favour of his archetype concept. Psychodynamic approaches generally argue that changes in emotion regulation are accomplished through corrective emotional experiences in the therapeutic relationship. Insights from affective neurosciences and attachment research have had a major influence on how the therapeutic relationship is constructed in contemporary psychodynamic approaches. There is a lack of similar developments in analytical psychology, which leads to substantial differences between the models of Jungian psychotherapy in contrast to other contemporary psychodynamic approaches. The implications of these differences for the practice of psychotherapy and especially the role of the therapeutic relationship are pointed out.

Toutes les psychothérapies actuelles s'accordent sur le fait que la régulation (défaillante) de l'émotion est au centre des désordres psychologiques et que la psychothérapie vise à améliorer la régulation de l'émotion. Dans sa recherche sur le « complexe à haute charge émotionnelle ¼, Jung a mis l'accent sur le rôle de la régulation défaillante de l'émotion comme participant aux désordres psychologiques ainsi qu'au changement dans le processus de psychothérapie. Mais il a abandonné ce champ de recherche et pris une direction très différente, y préférant son concept de l'archétype. Les approches psychodynamiques plaident généralement en faveur de l'idée que les changements dans la régulation de l'émotion sont atteints par les expériences émotionnelles corrective dans la relation thérapeutique. Des apports venant des neurosciences affectives et des recherches sur l'attachement ont eu une influence majeure sur comment la relation thérapeutique est construite dans les approches psychodynamiques actuelles. De tels développements font défaut dans la psychologie analytique, ce qui conduit à des différences considérables entre les modèles de psychothérapie jungienne en contraste avec les autres approches psychodynamiques actuelles. L'article souligne les conséquences de ces différences dans la pratique de la psychothérapie, tout particulièrement en ce qui concerne le rôle de la relation thérapeutique.

Todas las psicoterapias contemporáneas coinciden en que la regulación (fallida) de las emociones es central a los trastornos psicológicos y que la psicoterapia consiste en mejorar la regulación de las emociones. En su investigación sobre el complejo "de tonalidad afectiva", Jung hizo hincapié en el rol de una fallida regulación emocional en el desarrollo de los trastornos psicológicos, así como al cambio en el proceso de psicoterapia, pero abandonó este campo de investigación y tomó una dirección muy diferente en favor de su concepto de arquetipo. En general, los enfoques Psicodinámicos sostienen que los cambios en la regulación de las emociones se logran a través de experiencias emocionales correctivas en la relación terapéutica. Los conocimientos de las neurociencias afectivas y la investigación sobre el apego han tenido una gran influencia en cómo comprender la conformación de la relación terapéutica en los abordajes psicodinámicos contemporáneos. Faltan desarrollos similares en la psicología analítica, lo que conduce a diferencias sustanciales entre los modelos de la psicoterapia Junguiana en contraste con otros enfoques psicodinámicos contemporáneos. Se señalan las implicaciones de estas diferencias para la práctica de la psicoterapia y se destaca especialmente el rol de la relación terapéutica.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: An examination of relationships with alexithymia and emotion regulation difficulties.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) and ADHD are considered distinct but interrelated constructs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of elevated CDS symptoms and increased ADHD risk in the general population, and their relationships with emotion regulation difficulty (ERD) and alexithymia. Out of 1166 participants, 142 with known psychiatric conditions were excluded, resulting in 1024 participants. Participants completed various scales including Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5 (ASRS-5), Barkley Adult Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Short Form (DERS-16), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Four groups were formed based on Barkley and ASRS-5 scores: Group 1) No elevated CDS symptoms and Low risk of ADHD, Group 2) No elevated CDS symptoms and Increased risk of ADHD, Group 3) Elevated CDS symptoms and Low risk of ADHD, Group 4) Elevated CDS symptoms and Increased risk of ADHD. Elevated CDS symptoms was found in 10% of participants, and increased ADHD risk in 9.2%. Among probable ADHD cases, 40% had elevated CDS symptoms, while 60% of elevated CDS symptoms cases had increased ADHD risk. Group 4 (elevated CDS symptoms and increased risk of ADHD) had the highest ERD and alexithymia scores, while Group 1(no elevated CDS symptoms and low risk of ADHD) had the lowest. Regression analyses showed that CDS scores predicted ERD (47%) and alexithymia (32%) better than ADHD scores (ERD: 36%, alexithymia: 23%). CDS and ADHD appear as significant concepts that could be involved in the etiology of ERD and alexithymia.

Exploring emotion dysregulation in adolescence and its association with social immaturity, self-representation, and thought process problems.

Background and aims: This study aimed to explore the complex phenomenon of emotional dysregulation, particularly in adolescence, which is associated with many mental health disorders and problems. Increasing the knowledge of clinicians and researchers in this area can be helpful in guiding future treatment plans. The aim of the study was to investigate, from an exploratory perspective, which structural aspects of adolescent functioning (assessed using the Rorschach test and administered and scored according to the Comprehensive System, CS, by Exner) were associated with different dimensions of emotional dysregulation (evaluated using the Difficulties in Emotion Dysregulation Scale, DERS). Method: Secondary data were used for the study, which included 100 adolescents, with 50 in the clinical group (patients with complex trauma histories residing in therapeutic and socio-rehabilitative communities) and 50 in the nonclinical group (recruited from a scout group and middle and high schools). The two groups were compared on terms of the mean scores obtained in the DERS scales (one-tailed t-test) and the proportions of cases that obtained pathological values for selected Rorschach CS indicators (z-test). Partial correlations were calculated between the DERS scales and the Rorschach CS variables to explore which structural dimensions of functioning were associated with different characteristics of emotional dysregulation. Results: The results indicated that the two groups differed in their outcomes on all DERS scales, except for Awareness and Goals, and on four Rorschach CS variables (EgoIndex, a:p, Wsum6, and MOR). Some significant positive and negative correlations between the Rorschach CS variables and the DERS scales also emerged. Conclusion: These results suggest that the dimensions of functioning associated with emotional dysregulation are related to self-representation, relational immaturity, and thought processes character and characterize membership in a therapeutic community. The correlations described in the article warrants further consideration. Finally, the study's limitations and future research prospects are presented.

The Impact of Virtual Reality Intervention on Emotion Regulation and Executive Functions in Autistic Children.

Introduction: Autistic children may encounter difficulties in managing emotions and executive functions (EFs), which can contribute to mental and health challenges. Recognizing physical activities as a potential strategy for enhancing emotion regulation (ER), this study aims to investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality (VR)-based physical exercise program in improving ER and EFs among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and Methods: Forty boys diagnosed with ASD, aged 7 to 10 years, were randomly assigned to two groups: a VR intervention group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 20). The intervention group participated in a VR program, while the control group solely concentrated on engaging in sedentary and inactive video gaming. EFs were evaluated through the utilization of both the flanker task and the Wisconsin card sorting task, both administered initially at baseline and subsequently after an 8-week interval. In addition, the parents of the children completed the Emotion Regulation Checklist to evaluate their ER skills. Results: According to the results, a significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of EFs and the ability to regulate emotion (P < 0.05). The intervention group demonstrated a notable improvement in ER skills and exhibited superior executive functioning abilities compared with the control group. Conclusion: It appears that VR exercises can serve as a preliminary trial to enhance EFs and ER in children with autism. In addition, they may prove effective as complementary interventions to traditional educational strategies in preventing future challenges associated with ASD.

Factor structure of the Chinese version of Emotion Regulation Goals Scale.

Recent studies in Western cultures suggested emotion regulation goals have important implications for mental health. This study aimed to test the factor structure of Emotion Regulation Goals Scale (ERGS) in a Chinese cultural context. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were first used to examine the factor structure of the ERGS, and then reliability and validity tests were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of the ERGS. Results showed that the original five-factor model demonstrated fit during both EFA and CFA, and was thus adopted for further psychometric analyses. Most of the five factors were significantly associated with emotion regulation tendencies and negative emotional outcomes (e.g., depression), except for the non-significant associations between pro-hedonic goals and expressive suppression, and pro-social and impression management goals with depression. The ERGS also showed good internal consistency and split-half reliability. However, the test-retest reliabilities varied substantially across the five factors. The pro-hedonic goal had a higher test-retest reliability, whereas the contra-hedonic, performance, pro-social, and impression management goals showed lower values, especially the latter two. In brief, the ERGS showed a promising five-factor structure in assessing emotion regulation goals in Chinese cultural context.

Investigating the Correlation between Handedness and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Asthma and Allergy Patients.

Background: Asthma and allergic diseases are common chronic non-communicable conditions that can negatively impact the quality of life of patients. Psychological factors play a role in both the onset and progression of these conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between handedness and emotion regulation and cognitive emotion regulation strategies in patients with asthma and allergies in Isfahan, central Iran. Methods: We employed a causal-comparative research design. The study population consisted of all patients visiting Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Isfahan. One hundred participants were selected through probability sampling. Data were collected using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire, and were analyzed using univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Cognitive emotion regulation was significantly different between right-handed and left-handed patients with asthma and allergies (P=0.0001). A significant difference was also observed between the two groups in their emotion regulation strategies (P=0.031). The rate of positive and negative cognitive regulation strategies was higher in left-handed individuals with asthma and allergies, compared to right-handed individuals. Conclusion: Overall, handedness has a significant impact on the behavior and mental health of patients suffering from asthma and allergies. Therefore, handedness should be taken into consideration in interventions for emotion regulation.

Differences in social support, emotion invalidation, psychological needs, cognitive emotion regulation in maritally adjusted and maladjusted women in Pakistan: A matched pairs design.

The present study aimed to find out differences of social support, perceived emotion invalidation, psychological needs, and use of adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in maritally adjusted and maladjusted after controlling for age, education, employment status, and depressive symptomatology. The cross-sectional study uses a matched pairs design. The sample was divided into two groups; maritally adjusted and maladjusted women (n = 40 pairs) on basis of scores obtained on revised-dyadic adjustment scale. Forty maritally adjusted women were matched with 40 maritally maladjusted women according to age, education, and employment status. Social support questionnaire, perceived invalidation of emotion scale, basic psychological need satisfaction frustration scale, cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire, and center for epidemiologic studies depression scale were administered. One-way ANCOVA revealed that maritally maladjusted women had lower level of social support [mean difference; -5.65(-9.97, -1.33), p < 0.05, partial η2 = 0.08] and more emotional invalidation [mean difference; 15.36(13.08, 17.65), p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.71] compared to maritally adjusted women after controlling for the effect of depressive symptomatology. Maritally maladjusted women had more need frustration [mean difference; 10.75(7.59, 13.92), p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.38] compared to maritally adjusted women. However, maritally adjusted women had more need satisfaction [mean difference; 13.36(9.67, 17.05), p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.41] compared to maritally maladjusted women. Maritally adjusted women used more adaptive CER strategies (acceptance, refocus on planning and putting into perspective) [mean difference; 4.66(2.36, 6.95), p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.18] compared to maritally maladjusted women whereas, maritally maladjusted women used more maladaptive strategies (self-blame, catastrophizing and blaming others) [mean difference; 4.66(2.77, 6.54), p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.25] compared to maritally adjusted women. Maladjusted women had less social support and more emotional invalidation of emotions and psychological needs frustration. They used more maladaptive strategies to manage their negative emotions in comparison to maritally adjusted women. Identification of these cognitive emotion regulation strategies will help clinicians and counselors to devise psychological intervention targeting the use of adaptive strategies to minimize the negative mental health consequences.

Internet-delivered emotion regulation therapy for adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury and their parents: A qualitative, online focus group study.

OBJECTIVES: We explore adolescents' and their parents' experiences of internet-based emotion regulation therapy for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). DESIGN: A qualitative study nested within a controlled feasibility trial. METHODS: Online, semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with outpatient adolescents with NSSI aged 13-17 years (n = 9) and their parents (n = 8) who had received therapist-guided Internet-delivered Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (IERITA). Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were generated: (1) Fatigue - barriers to and during treatment, comprised of two sub-themes 'Arriving to services exhausted, needing motivation, and leaving feeling abandoned' and 'the burden of IERITA and the consequences of fatigue', (2) inter- and intrapersonal insights as facilitators of change and (3) Online, written contact with the therapist is beneficial and contributes with less pressure, comprised of three sub-themes 'the therapist behind the screen is essential', 'less pressure sitting alone: the physical absence of a therapist' and 'engaging on your own terms, in your own tempo'. Themes were consistent among adolescents and parents. CONCLUSION: Fatigue due to therapeutic engagement and previous help-seeking processes created barriers for engagement. Emotion regulation therapy was experienced as beneficial leading to inter- and intra-personal insights, facilitating change of maladaptive patterns. Therapists were regarded as indispensable, and the internet-based format did not hinder therapeutic alliance. The written format allowed for reflection and alleviated the pressure of relating to the therapist. Further research should explore experiences of other online treatment formats (e.g. synchronous or video-based) with regard to benefits, fatigue and therapist interaction.

Affect regulation and allostatic load over time.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging work suggests that affect regulation strategies (e.g., active coping, anger expression) predict disease and mortality risk, with sometimes divergent estimates by sex or education levels. However, few studies have examined potential underlying biological mechanisms. This study assessed the longitudinal association of affect regulation with future allostatic load. METHOD: In 2004-2006, 574 participants from the Midlife in the United States study completed validated scales assessing use of nine general and emotion-specific regulatory strategies (e.g., denial, anger expression). As a proxy for how flexibly participants regulate their affect, variability in the use of regulatory strategies was operationalized using a standard deviation-based algorithm and considered categorically (i.e., lower, moderate, greater variability) to assess non-linear effects. Participants also provided data on relevant covariates and 24 allostatic load biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, blood pressure). In 2017-2021, these biomarkers were again collected. Linear regressions modeled betas (ß) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) examining associations of affect regulatory constructs with future allostatic load. RESULTS: In fully-adjusted models including initial allostatic load, general regulatory strategies were unrelated to future allostatic load. Yet, greater versus moderate affect regulation variability levels predicted lower allostatic load (ß=-0.14; 95 %CI: -0.27, -0.01). Only among more educated participants, greater use of anger expression predicted lower allostatic load, while the reverse was noted with anger control (ßexpression=-0.12; 95 %CI: -0.20, -0.05; ßcontrol=0.14; 95 %CI: 0.05, 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: While general regulatory strategies appeared unrelated to allostatic load, greater variability in their use and anger-related strategies showed predictive value. Subsequent studies should examine these associations in larger, more diverse samples.

Momentary autonomic engagement during parent-adolescent conflict: Coping as a moderator of associations with emotions.

Regulatory efforts are hypothesized to affect associations between emotions and physiology (i.e., concordance) to facilitate adaptive functioning. Assessing the role of coping on physiological-emotional concordance during ecologically relevant scenarios can elucidate whether concordance can serve as a biomarker of risk or resilience. The present study assessed self-reported coping as a moderator of minute-to-minute associations between autonomic nervous system activity and emotions (i.e., physiological-emotional concordance) in caregivers (N = 97) and adolescents (N = 97; ages 10-15) during a dyadic conflict task. Models included physiological variables (sympathetic, skin conductance level [SCL]; and parasympathetic, respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) and their interaction (SCL × RSA) as predictors of emotions, with coping variables as moderators. Caregivers' use of primary control coping (e.g., problem solving and emotional expression) and secondary control coping (e.g., cognitive reappraisal and acceptance) use in response to family stress predicted more positive emotional experiences during the laboratory conflict task. Adolescents' use of secondary control coping moderated the SCL-emotion association, such that increases in momentary SCL were associated with more positive emotion ratings for youth reporting higher secondary control coping. For youth who report more adaptive trait-level coping skills, momentary changes in SCL may reflect active engagement and attentiveness to facilitate more positive emotional experiences. Findings advance our understanding of the interrelationships between physiological responses and psychological experiences during relevant, interactive scenarios. Autonomic responses are differentially related to affective states depending on the coping strategies that adolescents employ, suggesting that concordance may be associated with intervention targets (i.e., coping skills).

Adolescent digital emotion regulation.

The maturation of effective emotion regulation (ER) skills is a core achievement of adolescence and youth are now developing their ER habits and skills in a hybrid reality of digital and non-digital experiences. We present a new model of adolescent digital emotion regulation as a conceptual framework to help guide burgeoning research in this area. We distinguish two primary processes: the regulation of emotions that have been elicited within digital contexts (i.e., the regulation of digitally induced emotions), and how youth regulate their emotions through digital means (i.e., digitally regulated emotion). Following the explication of different pathways in the model and consideration of the affordances of digital contexts, we highlight how this framework connects to theory and guides future research.

Evidence that specific personal relationships help regulate depressive symptoms and related constructs among people with probable major depressive disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Relational regulation theory describes how social network members (providers of regulation) help people (recipients of regulation) regulate their effect, actions and thoughts through mostly ordinary social interaction. Regulation is relational when the ability of a provider to regulate a recipient is an emergent property of the dyad and not a stable property of the provider or recipient. Research in predominantly well samples has found that dyads evoked affect and self-relevant thought in recipients. The present research examined whether such effects occurred among people with probable major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: A national, internet sample of 2058 US residents was screened for probable MDD. Depressed recipients (N = 152) rated their experience of depression-related constructs when with or thinking about specific providers. RESULTS: Recipients' reports of affect and thought varied strongly depending on the dyad they were with or thinking about. These effects occurred for depressive symptoms, positive and negative affect, self-esteem, negative automatic thoughts, hopelessness, excessive reassurance-seeking, reappraisal and emotion suppression. Dyads that evoked depression-related experiences were seen by participants as unsupportive and as evoking conflict. CONCLUSION: Relational regulation appears to occur among people with MDD which provides new insights about interpersonal processes in depression.

The Role of Emotion Regulation and Awareness in Psychosocial Stress: An EEG-Psychometric Correlational Study.

BACKGROUND: In stressful situations, to overcome unpleasant emotions, individuals try to manage stress through emotion regulation strategies such as cognitive reappraisal, interoception, and mindfulness. METHOD: 26 healthy adults underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (named the Social Stress Test, SST) while their electrophysiological (EEG) activity was monitored. Participants also completed self-report questionnaires prior to this, including the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Emotional Regulation of Others and Self (EROS), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Three brain regions of interest (ROIs) were considered in the EEG data processing: frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital. Correlational analyses were performed between psychometric scales and EEG band power spectral values for each ROI. RESULTS: The results showed positive correlations between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness, and high-frequency EEG bands (beta, alpha, gamma) over frontal ROI, indicating enhanced cognitive processing and emotional regulation. Conversely, emotion regulation and empathy measures correlated positively with low-frequency EEG bands (delta, theta), associated with improved social cognition and top-down regulatory processes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that EEG correlations of the stress response are connected to emotion regulation mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of body state awareness in managing stress and emotions for overall well-being and quality of life.