Is the association between various emotion-regulation skills and mental health mediated by the ability to modify emotions? Results from two cross-sectional studies

Berking M, Poppe C, Luhmann M, Wupperman P, Jaggi V, Seifritz E (2012)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry Elsevier

Book Volume: 43

Pages Range: 931-937

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.09.009

Abstract

Background and objectives: In order to clarify mechanisms underlying the association between emotion regulation and psychopathology, we tested whether the ability to modify negative emotions mediates the associations of other emotion-regulation skills with psychopathological symptoms in two studies. Methods: The first study included 151 college students; the second included 121 psychiatric inpatients. Bootstrapping-enhanced mediation analyses were utilized to assess associations between self-reports of emotion-regulation skills and psychopathology, as well as potential mediation effects. Results: In both samples, the ability to modify emotions completely mediated the association between symptoms and skills for most skills, but not for the skill of accepting/tolerating negative emotions. Limitations: Major limitations include the use of a cross-sectional design as well as exclusive use of self-report data. Conclusions: The ability to modify negative emotions may be the common pathway by which many emotion-regulation skills exert their influence on mental health; however, the skill of accepting/tolerating negative emotions may be beneficial to mental health regardless of whether or not it facilitates modification of emotions. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Authors with CRIS profile

Matthias Berking

Additional Organisation(s)

Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie

Involved external institutions

City University of New York CUNY US United States (USA) (US) University of Chicago US United States (USA) (US) Philipps-Universität Marburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Berking, M., Poppe, C., Luhmann, M., Wupperman, P., Jaggi, V., & Seifritz, E. (2012). Is the association between various emotion-regulation skills and mental health mediated by the ability to modify emotions? Results from two cross-sectional studies. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 43(3), 931-937. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.09.009

MLA:

Berking, Matthias, et al. "Is the association between various emotion-regulation skills and mental health mediated by the ability to modify emotions? Results from two cross-sectional studies." Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 43.3 (2012): 931-937.

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