Cognitive Reappraisal Facilitates Decentering: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Analysis Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Emotion Regulation

Background:

• Cognitive reappraisal is an effective emotion regulation strategy.
• Previous research has yielded conflicting hypotheses regarding the causal relationship between cognitive reappraisal and decentering.
• The empirical investigation of this relationship has been lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationship between cognitive reappraisal and decentering.
• To determine whether cognitive reappraisal enhances decentering or vice versa.
• To provide empirical evidence for the directionality of the effect.

Main Methods:

• Two-wave cross-lagged analysis was employed.
• 138 Japanese university students participated.
• Measures of decentering and cognitive reappraisal tendency were administered at two time points, one month apart.

Main Results:

• Cross-lagged analysis revealed a significant positive effect of cognitive reappraisal on decentering.
• The reverse effect, where decentering influences cognitive reappraisal, was not statistically significant.
• Habitual use of cognitive reappraisal appears to foster decentering.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive reappraisal causally enhances decentering.
• The findings support the notion that employing cognitive reappraisal strategies leads to increased decentering.
• This suggests that fostering cognitive reappraisal skills may be a viable approach to enhance decentering.