Role of Emotion Regulation in Psychopathology

Objectives: The associations between emotional skills encompassed in emotion regulation model and psychopathology were examined by investigating its ability to modify the emotion-mediated association between other emotion regulation skills and psychopathology.  Methods: A total of ۴۶۵ students were selected using proposal sampling method. Data were collected using Emotion Regulation Skill Questionnaire (ERSQ) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Data were analyzed using bootstrapping-enhanced mediation analysis that considered the ability to modify emotions as a mediator, psychopathology as dependent, and other emotional skill as independent and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: A significant negative correlation was established between emotional skills and psychopathology in a range from ۰.۱۳ (bodily perception of sensations) to ۰.۳۱ (modification) (ρ=-۰.۳۱, P˂۰.۰۱). The total effect for the variables of clarity, understanding, acceptance and tolerance, confrontation, self-support, attention, and sensation was significant at P<۰.۰۵, thereby rendering the mediation analysis plausible. The indirect effect of all variables was also significant. Therefore, all the variables have partial mediating effects. The direct effect of the variable of attention, sensation, and understanding on the psychological disturbances was not significant (P>۰.۰۵), and modification between these three skills and psychopathology exerted a complete mediating effect. The direct impact of emotional clarity, acceptance and tolerance, confrontation, and self-support was significant. Thus, emotion modification between the skills of emotional clarity, acceptance and tolerance, confrontation, and self-support with psychological disturbance had partial mediating effects. Discussion: The ability to modify emotions is the pathway through which other emotional skills might exert their influence on the mental health.

Keywords:

Psychopathology , Emotion regulation , Skills , Mediation