Performance and belief-based emotion regulation capacity and tendency: Mapping links with cognitive flexibility and perceived stress

Abstract

Cognitive reappraisal is among the most effective and well-studied emotion regulation strategies humans have at their disposal. Here, in 125 healthy adults, we examined whether one's capacity and one's tendency to reappraise differentially relate to perceived stress. We also investigated whether cognitive flexibility, a skill hypothesized to support reappraisal, accounts for associations between reappraisal capacity and tendency, and perceived stress. Although reappraisal tendency was inversely associated with perceived stress, no relationship was observed between reappraisal capacity and perceived stress. Intriguingly, cognitive flexibility was unrelated to reappraisal and perceived stress. These results have implications for both basic and applied science. That reappraisal capacity and tendency were uncorrelated with cognitive flexibility, a core cognitive skill, suggests that reappraisal may be an emergent process that is greater than the sum of its cognitive parts. Moreover, these data suggest that teaching individuals to reappraise more frequently may be an effectual means for reducing perceived stress.

Is social decision making for close others consistent across domains and within individuals?

“…In addition to the computer tasks and self-report measures described here, we also collected data on an additional two computer tasks and several surveys. The computer tasks included a simplified, two-choice version of the SGT and a canonical probabilistic reversal learning task (identical to the one used in Guassi Moreira, Parkinson, & Silvers, 2017). Additional questionnaires tapped cognitive reappraisal capacity, cognitive reappraisal tendency, behavioral suppression tendency, domain-specific risk-taking, sensation-seeking, and perceived stress.…”

Emotional regulation, attachment style, and assertiveness as determinants of well-being in emerging adults

“…Other factors of well-being include optimism (Seligman, 1991), hope (Delas et al, 2015), positive emotions, the ability to find meaning (Seligman, 2011;Noemic, 2018), positive relationships, self-acceptance (Ryff, 1995), self-esteem, autonomy, and a sense of control (Bandura, 1997). Emotional regulation (Guassi Moreira et al, 2022), assertiveness (Sarkova et al, 2013), and attachment styles (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2007) have also been considered variables influencing well-being, especially among youth. The effect of these three variables on emerging adults' well-being will be the focus of the present study, as they seemed to have attracted less attention from researchers than the others listed above.…”

“…The ability to regulate emotions helps cope with stress and predicts fulfillment and positive mental health (Gross and Muñoz, 1995). In emerging adults, feeling able to regulate their emotions is associated with well-being (Guassi Moreira et al, 2022). Enhancing emotional regulation abilities is considered likely to psychologically improve the individual (McMain et al, 2010), reduce stress, and support mindfulness (Prakash et al, 2015).…”

The Relevance of Everyday Emotion Regulation Knowledge for Well-Being: A Meta-Analytic Synthesis

“…Emotion regulation (ER) is key to affective well-being (Gross et al, 2019;Troy et al, 2023). Because previous work has primarily focused on how emotional well-being is related to the habitual use of specific ER strategies (ERSs; e.g., Aldao et al, 2010;Hu et al, 2014), little is known about a person's general ability to effectively implement ERSs in their daily life (Guassi Moreira et al, 2022;McRae et al, 2012), as well as the differential effectiveness of ERSs across individuals, and the affective consequences of prioritizing the use of individually more effective ERSs (i.e., ER knowledge). To address these gaps in the literature, we meta-analytically re-analyzed 13 AA datasets.…”