Predicting positive and negative affect based on emotion and thought regulation strategies
Predicting positive and negative affect based on emotion and thought regulation strategies

Summary/Abstract: This study examined the relationship between two emotions and thought regulation strategies - expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal - and its affective state following exposure to a trauma-related event. We predicted that these relationships would be moderated by peritraumatic state anxiety. An experimental design was used where participants were exposed to an aversive film. Individual differences in emotions and thought regulation strategies were measured before exposure. After the film, the participants completed scales for measuring peritraumatic anxiety, as well as positive and negative affect. The analyses indicated that emotions and thought suppression predicted negative affect. Moreover, peritraumatic anxiety predicted both positive and negative affect, but it did not moderate the relation between emotion and thought regulation strategies and its affect. The practical implications of these results for personal wellbeing are discussed.

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