Associations between emotion malleability beliefs and emotion regulation processes in daily life

Emotion malleability beliefs have been demonstrated to influence emotion regulation at the trait level. Contemporary theories propose that emotion regulation involves several stages: identifying the need to regulate, selecting strategies, and implementing those strategies. It remains unclear how emotion malleability beliefs relate to these stages in everyday life. This study examined the relationships between emotion malleability beliefs and the three stages of emotion regulation using a dynamic structural equation modelling (DSEM). Data from three studies (total N = 390) from the EMOTE database employing daily diary and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) were analysed. Emotion malleability beliefs were assessed at baseline, while emotion regulation strategies and negative emotions were assessed in daily lives. Results showed that emotion malleability beliefs were associated with the selection of cognitive reappraisal in the daily diary study, but not with any stage of emotion regulation in the EMA studies. Exploratory analyses further demonstrated a significant association between emotion malleability beliefs and the selection of situation modification in the daily diary study. These findings highlight the potential of EMA and daily diary studies to explore emotion regulation theories, while emphasising the need for further research into the dynamic relationships between emotion beliefs and regulation in daily life.