Self-regulation of mood: Strategies for changing a bad mood, raising energy, and reducing tension.
Abstract
Four studies evaluated the success of behaviors and strategies used to self-regulate bad moods, raise energy, and reduce tension. Study 1 (N = 102) used an open-ended questionnaire to identify behavioral categories. Studies 2 and 4 surveyed a representative sample (N = 308) with a fixed-response questionnaire to quantify behaviors, general strategies, and individual differences. Study 3 used psychotherapist (N = 26) judgments of the likely success of the strategies. Therapist and self-rating converged on success of strategies and gender differences. These studies clarify and confirm previous research findings, particularly gender differences in controlling depression. Exercise appears to be the most effective mood-regulating behavior, and the best general strategy to change a bad mood is a combination of relaxation, stress management, cognitive, and exercise techniques. Results support a 2-dimensional biopsychological model of mood.
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Women ruminate more often than men, which results in prolonged negative affect.
“Previous researchers interested in gender differences in psychiatric conditions such as depression have focused primarily on the fact that women ruminate more often than men, which results in prolonged negative affect (Nolen-Hoeksema & Jackson, 2001; Thayer, Newman, & McClain, 1994).”
From Gender Differences in Emotion Regulation: An fMRI Study of Cognitive Reappraisal (2008) · cites this paper as Thayer, Newman, & McClain, 1994
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- Authors
- Thayer, R. E., Newman, J. R., & McClain, T. M.
- Affiliations
- California State University, Long Beach (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1994
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 910-925
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2033787268
- Cited by
- 877
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 47 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 31 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 44 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 36
- FWCI
- 8.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- depressive mood, energy, tension reduction, physical activity, relaxation, stress management, cognitive strategies, gender differences, depression
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Aged, Arousal, Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors
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