Exploring two models of emotion regulation: how strategy use, abilities, and flexibility relate to well-being and...

The process model of emotion regulation (ER) focuses on strategies used to manage emotions, while the abilities model emphasizes the extent one adaptively responds to negative emotions. We sought to clarify the relationships between components of ER based on both of the abilities (i.e., dysregulation) and process (i.e., strategy use) models, as well as ER flexibility (i.e., choosing the optimal strategy for a given situation) with well-being (happiness, flourishing), internalizing symptoms (depression, anxiety), and disordered eating. Gender differences were explored.

Participants included 612 undergraduate students (M_age = 20.24) who completed questionnaires measuring ER, well-being, and mental illness. Structural equation modeling was used on cross-sectional data to explore the associations between ER and psychological outcomes.

Dysregulation was associated with reduced well-being and greater psychopathology. In terms of strategy use, reappraisal was related to greater well-being and fewer internalizing symptoms, while the opposite relationships were found for suppression. Suppression was also linked to disordered eating. ER flexibility was related to well-being for men only. Further, dysregulation had the largest association with all outcomes.

Findings suggest that ER abilities may underlie other components of ER and are most central to mental health and illness.