Positive and Negative Emotion-Regulation Ability Profiles: Links With Strategies, Goals, and Internalizing Symptoms

Emotion regulation (ER) encompasses multiple, interdependent aspects (e.g., abilities, strategies, goals) whose collective contribution to mental-health outcomes is not well understood. To provide a more holistic picture of ER and better identify individuals who may be more susceptible to maladaptive ER and internalizing psychopathology, we examined latent profiles of positive and negative ER abilities and their associations with other aspects of ER (e.g., strategies, goals, success) and internalizing symptoms among adults cross-sectionally (Study 1) and daily (Study 2). In both studies, profiles characterized by pronounced deficits in positive ER abilities and below-average negative ER abilities were associated with maladaptive ER strategies and internalizing symptoms. Individuals with these profiles were also more likely to want to down-regulate positive emotions and use strategies reflecting disengagement from positive emotions in daily life. These findings provide insight into characteristics of vulnerable individuals, which can help refine current theory of ER and intervention efforts.