University of Twente Student Theses
Exploring Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Childhood Adversity and Stress Reactivity in Adults
Sinn, Aline-Florentina (2022) Exploring Maladaptive Emotion Regulation Strategies as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Childhood Adversity and Stress Reactivity in Adults.
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| Abstract: | Background: To prevent stress from negatively impacting mental health, it is essential to understand why some individuals react stronger and have a negative affect on stress, by investigating the underlying factors of stress reactivity. Existing studies show that there is an association between exposure to childhood adversity and stress reactivity in adulthood. It was suggested, that exposure to childhood adversity may be an indicator of being more prone to stress and responding with negative emotions. Furthermore, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were associated with childhood adversity and stress reactivity. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore whether maladaptive emotion regulation strategies play a mediating role in the association between childhood adversity and negative affective stress reactivity in adults. Method: Secondary data of 52 participants aged between 18 and 35 years were used from De Calheiros Velozo et al. (2021), who used the repeated Montreal Imagining Stress Test (rMIST). Before the experimental stress task, the participants completed self-reported questionnaires regarding childhood adversity and emotion regulation strategies. Negative affect was measured after the baseline, control, stress, and recovery phase. Results: The majority of the participants were exposed to childhood adversity. The results show that childhood adversity is a significant predictor of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, however, no mediation effect was found. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, it can be implied that childhood adversity results in higher usage of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, but these strategies cannot be associated with the relationship between childhood adversity and stress reactivity. Future research with a more representative sample should replicate the results. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in general should be considered as a mediator within this association. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/93115 |
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