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Cited by 249Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Patterns of emotion regulation and psychopathology

Open access
Eftekhari, Afsoon, Zoellner, Lori A., Vigil, Shree A.·2009·Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
DOI 10.1080/10615800802179860PMC PMC3234115
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Abstract

Emotion regulatory strategies such as higher expressive suppression and lower cognitive reappraisal may be associated with increased psychopathology (Gross & John, 2003). Yet, it is unclear whether these strategies represent distinct cognitive styles associated with psychopathology, such that there are individuals who are predominantly "suppressors" or "reappraisers." Using cluster analysis, we examined whether women with and without exposure to potentially traumatic events evidence distinct patterns of emotion regulation frequency, capacity, suppression, and cognitive reappraisal. Four patterns emerged: high regulators; high reappraisers/low suppressors; moderate reappraisers/low suppressors; and low regulators. Individuals who reported infrequently and ineffectively regulating their emotions (low regulators) also reported higher depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, individuals who reported frequently and effectively using reappraisal and low levels of suppression (high reappraisers/low suppressors) reported the lowest levels of these symptoms, suggesting that this specific combination of emotion regulation may be most adaptive. Our findings highlight that the capacity to regulate emotions and the ability to flexibly apply different strategies based on the context and timing may be associated with reduced psychopathology and more adaptive functioning.

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  • Expressive suppression is a defense mechanism used to cope with negative emotions, but associated with longer-term depression and anxiety.

    “while expressive suppression is a defense mechanism used to cope with negative emotions, but associated with longer-term depression and anxiety [26].”

    From Effects of Mindfulness and Life-Skills Training on Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Symptoms in Chinese Migrant Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (2024) · cites this paper as [26]

    The paper describes expressive suppression as an emotion-regulation strategy that inhibits emotional responses, and its Discussion reports higher depression and anxiety among participants with a low-regulation pattern that included moderate suppression (page numbers unavailable). It does not establish a longer-term association with depression and anxiety, nor does it characterize expressive suppression specifically as a defense mechanism. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Eysenck MW A cognitive approach to trait anxiety. European Journal of Personality 2000 14 463 476
  2. Lazarus RS Folkman S Stress, appraisal, & coping 1984 Springer New York
  3. Levenson RW Ekman P Davidson RJ Human emotion: A functional view. The nature of emotion 1994 123 126 Oxford University Press New York

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Authors
Eftekhari, A., Zoellner, L. A., & Vigil, S. A.
Affiliations
University of Washington (US)
Corresponding author
Eftekhari, Afsoon
ORCID
Zoellner, Lori A.
Venue
Anxiety, Stress, & Coping
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2009-08-24
Volume
22
Issue
5
Pages
571-586
ISSN
  • 1061-5806 (ISSN-L)
  • 1477-2205
DOI
10.1080/10615800802179860
PMC
PMC3234115
OpenAlex
W2106521218
Cited by
249
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
FWCI
4.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Anxiety Stress & Coping (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Washington
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH066347)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
emotion regulation, expressive suppression, cognitive reappraisal, psychopathology, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, potentially traumatic events, women, regulatory strategy, adaptive behavior
MeSH terms
Anxiety, Cognition, Depression, Emotions, Female, Homeostasis, Humans, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Cluster Analysis

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