Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Tammy Allen, Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Kelsey Merlo, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Georgia Chao, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Eun Sook Kim, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Joseph Vandello, Ph.D.

Keywords

Affect, Emotional Display Rules, LPA, Natural Expression, Reappraisal

Abstract

Previous research has often examined emotion regulation strategies in isolation, without considering how they may combine to form distinct profiles of emotion regulation. This study aimed to address this limitation by identifying profiles of emotion regulation strategies in the work and home contexts, and by examining their associations with individual differences and outcomes. Latent profile analyses (LPA) with expression of naturally felt emotions and the three emotion regulation strategies suppression, avoidance, and reappraisal as indicators revealed three profiles at work (i.e., low regulators, high regulators, and drain regulators) and three profiles at home (i.e., low regulators, gain regulators, and drain regulators). Results further showed that dispositional negative affect was (a) an antecedent of profiles involving relatively high suppression and avoidance at home and (b) increased the likelihood of belonging to such profiles irrespective of the context. Dispositional positive affect increased the likelihood of belonging to profiles involving reappraisal and natural expression at work. Regarding outcomes, individuals belonging to profiles with strategies that are more emotionally draining (e.g., suppression, avoidance) experienced more negative outcomes (e.g., increased emotional exhaustion, increased work-family conflict, and decreased levels of job satisfaction, coworker satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction) compared to profiles with strategies that are less draining (e.g., reappraisal, natural expression). Altogether, the results of this study demonstrate that 1) there are differences in the combinations of emotion regulation strategies individuals use at work and home, 2) affective dispositions do predict consistency in the combinations of strategies used regardless of the context, and 3) low regulation of emotions and reappraisal coupled with the expression of naturally felt emotions are effective approaches to managing one’s emotions. Additionally, incorporating reappraisal alongside suppression and avoidance can offset the otherwise negative outcomes. These findings suggest that emotion regulation is a complex and context-dependent phenomenon and that identifying profiles of emotion regulation can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of its antecedents and consequences. Interventions can be centered on teaching individuals to identify their regulation patterns, incorporating reappraisal, and/or learning healthy avenues to express their emotions.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS