Relation between Emotion Regulation and Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis Review

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression) and mental health (measured by life-satisfaction, positive affect, depression, anxiety, and negative affect). 48 studies, which included 51 independent samples, 157 effect sizes, and 21,150 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that cognitive reappraisal was correlated significantly and positively with positive indicators of mental health (r = .26) and negatively with negative indicators of mental health (r = -.20). Expressive suppression was correlated negatively with positive indicators of mental health (r = -.12), and positively with negative indicators of mental health (r =.15). Expressive suppression was correlated positively with positive indicators of mental health within the category of samples with Western cultural values (r = -.11) but not the category with Eastern cultural values. Moreover, the correlation of expressive suppression and negative indicators of mental health was stronger in the Western cultural values category (r = .19) than in the Eastern cultural values category (r = .06). Therefore, it is necessary for follow-up studies about emotion regulation and mental health to consider some moderator variable like the culture.

Changing views of emotion regulation and neurobiological models of the mechanism of action of psychotherapy

“…Empirical evidence suggests the existence of an association between the use of reappraisal and increased expression of positive emotion, increased interpersonal functioning, and increased wellbeing when compared to other forms of regulation, such as behavioral suppression (Gross, 2002;Gross & John, 2003). Moreover, reappraisal has been shown to be positively associated with mental health, and negatively with emotional disorders Hu et al, 2014;Joormann & Gotlib, 2010). Among the relatively less adaptive emotion regulation strategies, suppression is one of the most investigated.…”

“…Compared to reappraisal, suppression has been negatively associated to the expression of positive emotion, effective interpersonal functioning, and well-being (Gross, 2002;Gross & John, 2003). Moreover, suppression is negatively correlated with mental health indicators (Hu et al, 2014), and its habitual use has been observed in patients with depression and anxiety diagnoses .…”

Psychological aspects of diabetes care: Effecting behavioral change in patients

“…Emotional regulation via cognition such as cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression are shown to lead to better social adjustment, mental health and overall wellbeing [64] . Furthermore, cognitive training in patients with psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mood disorders and substance use disorders) could improve emotional regulation, clinical symptoms, and adaptive community functioning [65] .…”

Examining the Structure of Negative Affect Regulation and Its Association With Hedonic and Psychological Wellbeing

“…Confrontation or the expression of emotion to those responsible for the negative emotions, with the aim of changing what happened, is usually dysfunctional or neutral in the case of negative affect (Penley et al, 2002). Also, inhibition of feelings and suppression of expressions are dysfunctional forms of emotional regulation for negative affect (Gross, 2005, 2015; Hu et al, 2014), and are negatively associated with well-being (Gross and John, 2003). Both are related to affect balance, r = -0.16 and r = -0.18 (Páez and Da Costa, 2014) and suppression is associated with EI, r = -0.21 (Peña-Sarrionandia et al, 2015).…”