Reappraisal and Health: An Investigation into Reappraisal Ability and Stressful Life Events as the Missing Links

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Roos, L. (2021). Reappraisal and Health: An Investigation into Reappraisal Ability and Stressful Life Events as the Missing Links. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

Inadequate emotion regulation may underlie the development of psychopathology as well as worsened physical health, particularly in the context of stress. Cognitive reappraisal is typically considered an adaptive strategy to manage negative emotions. However, the extent to which reappraisal is beneficial may hinge upon contextual and individual differences. Specifically, it is unclear whether and how the ability to reappraise effectively (i.e., reappraisal ability) and exposure to stressful life events moderate the association between habitual reappraisal and health. Using a series of questionnaires and an experimental task designed to measure the ability to effectively down-regulate sad emotions using reappraisal, this dissertation examines the interactive effects of habitual reappraisal, reappraisal ability, and exposure to stressful life events on depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as self-reported physical health. Results indicate that habitual reappraisal may protect against elevated depressive symptoms and worsened self-reported physical health for people exposed to stressful life events, and that reappraising often appears to be particularly important when people are less effective in their attempts. These findings provide novel contributions to the field of emotion regulation and health by clarifying that exposure to stressful life events is an important moderator in the association between reappraisal and health and by elucidating the important roles of both habitual reappraisal and reappraisal ability.

Details
Author

Roos, Lydia

Title

Reappraisal and Health: An Investigation into Reappraisal Ability and Stressful Life Events as the Missing Links

Physical Description

1 online resource (140 pages) : PDF

Date

2021

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Inadequate emotion regulation may underlie the development of psychopathology as well as worsened physical health, particularly in the context of stress. Cognitive reappraisal is typically considered an adaptive strategy to manage negative emotions. However, the extent to which reappraisal is beneficial may hinge upon contextual and individual differences. Specifically, it is unclear whether and how the ability to reappraise effectively (i.e., reappraisal ability) and exposure to stressful life events moderate the association between habitual reappraisal and health. Using a series of questionnaires and an experimental task designed to measure the ability to effectively down-regulate sad emotions using reappraisal, this dissertation examines the interactive effects of habitual reappraisal, reappraisal ability, and exposure to stressful life events on depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as self-reported physical health. Results indicate that habitual reappraisal may protect against elevated depressive symptoms and worsened self-reported physical health for people exposed to stressful life events, and that reappraising often appears to be particularly important when people are less effective in their attempts. These findings provide novel contributions to the field of emotion regulation and health by clarifying that exposure to stressful life events is an important moderator in the association between reappraisal and health and by elucidating the important roles of both habitual reappraisal and reappraisal ability.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Psychology

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

Emotion Regulation
Health
Reappraisal
Reappraisal Ability
Stressful Life Events
Stressors

Subject Area

Health Psychology

Advisor(s)

Bennett, Jeanette

Committee Members

Canevello, Amy
Levens, Sara
Hartman, Jennifer

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2021.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Roos_uncc_0694D_12859

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:2763