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Emotion regulation and felt security in different-gender romantic relationship interactions: Two dyadic,
Emma M Marshall1, Susan Chesterman1, Gery C Karantzas1
1School of Psychology, Deakin University.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
|December 8, 2025
Summary
During romantic conflict, higher hyper-emotion regulation was linked to decreased felt security in partners. This suggests emotion regulation strategies significantly impact relationship security during disputes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Attachment Theory
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Felt security in romantic relationships can fluctuate during conflict.
- Attachment theory posits emotion regulation influences security changes.
- Previous research has not fully explored the link between observed emotion regulation and felt security during conflict.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between observed emotion regulation (hyper-, hypo-, and balanced) and changes in felt security during romantic conflict.
- To examine potential spillover effects of emotion regulation on felt security following a positive discussion.
Main Methods:
- Two observational studies of romantic couples (2017, 2018-2019) were conducted.
- Researchers observed and rated participants' emotion regulation strategies during conflict discussions.
- Felt security was measured before and after the conflict discussion.
Main Results:
- Higher observer-rated hyper-emotion regulation by actors and partners was associated with lower postconflict felt security, controlling for preconflict levels.
- The actor effect of hyper-emotion regulation was replicated across both studies.
- No spillover effects on felt security after a positive discussion were found; effects for hypo- and balanced emotion regulation were mixed.
Conclusions:
- Hyper-emotion regulation during conflict is linked to decreased felt security, particularly for the actor.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of hyper-emotion regulation's impact and to clarify the roles of hypo- and balanced emotion regulation.
- Therapeutic interventions could focus on managing hyper-emotion regulation during conflict and promoting positive discussions to restore felt security.
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