IntroductionEmotion regulation (ER) via cognitive reappraisal (CR) has been shown to be superior to the use of expressive suppression (ES) in terms of several aspects of mental well-being. However, a cultural perspective suggests that the consequences of ES may be moderated by cultural values (Western/individualistic vs. Eastern/collectivistic values).ObjectiveTo test this hypothesis that ES may be associated with better outcomes in collectivistic cultures (e.g. Turkey) than in individualistic cultures (e.g. Germany) not only in healthy individuals but also in patients with mental disorders.AimThis study aims to gather knowledge to what extent associations of ER strategies and mental health are universal or rather culturally specific.MethodsWe investigated healthy (n = 30) and depressed (n = 30) German women and healthy (n = 30) and depressed (n = 30) Turkish immigrants living in Germany. Groups were compared in terms of frequency of ER strategies (CR and ES) and their consequences for different aspects of mental well-being.ResultsHealthy Turkish immigrants exhibited a greater ER flexibility (frequent use of ES plus frequent use of CR) what was associated with more positive outcomes of ES in Turkish than in German women. None of these differences were found between patient samples, both of which showed a greater use of ES than CR.ConclusionsResults suggest that cultural moderation of ES consequences are associated with a greater ER flexibility in healthy Turkish individuals. Depressed Turkish patients may not profit from ES due to their more rigid use of ES.

Our findings indicate that the relationship between autonomy and mental health is culture-specific in healthy women, but disappears in depressed women. These findings are discussed with consideration of clinical implications and an outlook regarding further research.

Emotion regulation (ER) via cognitive reappraisal has been shown to be superior to the use of expressive suppression regarding several aspects of mental well-being. However, a cultural perspective suggests that the consequences of emotional suppression may be moderated by cultural values. In order to examine whether this also applies to clinical samples, we investigated healthy and depressed German women and healthy and depressed Turkish immigrants living in Germany. Groups were compared in terms of frequency of ER strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and with which different aspects of mental well-being the same are associated. Healthy Turkish immigrants exhibited a greater ER balance (frequent use of suppression plus frequent use of reappraisal), which was associated with more positive outcomes of expressive suppression in Turkish than in German women. None of these differences were found in patient samples, both of which showed a greater use of emotional suppression than cognitive reappraisal. Results suggest that the cultural moderation of the link between emotional suppression and well-being is associated with a greater ER balance in healthy Turkish individuals. Depressed Turkish patients may not profit from suppression due to their more rigid use of it.

Zusammenfassung Anliegen: Die Untersuchung kultureller Unterschiede im Zusammenhang zwischen Selbstkonzept und psychischer Belastung. Methode: Insgesamt wurden 56 t?rkische und deutsche station?re Patientinnen mit Depression untersucht. Ergebnisse: Bei t?rkischen Frauen war ein interdependentes Selbstkonzept mit einer niedrigeren, bei deutschen Frauen mit einer h?heren psychischen Belastung assoziiert. Schlussfolgerung: In der psychotherapeutischen Arbeit mit t?rkischen Migranten spielen kulturell bedingte Unterschiede im Selbstkonzept eine wichtige Rolle f?r die Ableitung von Therapiezielen und Interventionen.

IntroductionSelf-determination theory posits that autonomy and relatedness are innate and universal psychological needs and that when satisfied well-being is enhanced. Contrarily, some cross-cultural perspectives suggest that the degree of autonomy and relatedness satisfaction necessary for well-being within a particular society is mediated by cultural orientations.ObjectiveGiven the existing debates on cultural universality of basic needs, we examined the influence of culture on the relationship between basic needs and well-being within healthy and depressed subjects.AimOur aim was to unravel the relationship between culture, basic needs and well-being.MethodsBy sampling German (depressed n = 27, healthy n = 26) and Turkish immigrant (depressed n = 29, healthy n = 28) women in Germany, data were gathered by structured clinical interviews and self-report questionnaires in both languages.ResultsAutonomy and relatedness satisfaction were found lower in depressed groups compared with healthy controls in both cultures. No difference was found in the level of need satisfaction when we compared German vs. Turkish controls and German vs. Turkish patients. In German controls, well-being was positively associated with autonomy satisfaction but not with relatedness satisfaction. Conversely, in Turkish controls, well-being was positively associated with relatedness satisfaction but not with autonomy satisfaction. Within depressed groups satisfaction of both needs yielded positive impact on well-being regardless of culture.ConclusionsThe relation between basic needs satisfaction and well-being was largely determined by cultural background in healthy subjects. However, this cultural variation disappeared within depressed patients, which could be accounted by mean level differences in need satisfaction between healthy and depressed subjects.