Distraction over reappraisal strategies in interpersonal emotion regulation: associations with emotional difficulties

Distraction (diversion from the emotional experience) has been suggested as generally less effective than reappraisal (engagement with the emotional experience through cognitive reframing) to change one's own and others' emotions. Hence, we examined if a predominant use of distraction over reappraisal in interpersonal emotion regulation can be problematic. In Study 1 (N = 274), we used a difference score to assess individuals' dominant use of distraction over reappraisal. This tendency was linked to more difficulties in identifying and describing feelings and greater experience of personal distress. In Study 2 (N = 121), based on latent class analysis, we identified three classes: Class 1 (23%; who consistently used reappraisal to change others' anger, sadness, or stress/anxiety), Class 2 (48%; who consistently used affective engagement), and Class 3 (19%; who consistently used distraction). Importantly, Class 3 (users of distraction) scored higher in difficulties in emotion identification of themselves and others and experiential avoidance compared to the classes who mainly used affective engagement and reappraisal. The obtained results suggest that the consistent use of diversion over engagement strategies to change others' emotions might be associated with more emotional difficulties in the regulator.