Task-based interpretation flexibility predicts real-world emotion regulation variability

Adapting to daily emotional challenges requires flexibility including flexible interpretations of ambiguous situations and dynamic use of emotion regulation (ER) strategies. Understanding whether flexibility is a domain-general capacity that spans both cognition and emotion regulation has important implications. This study investigated whether baseline interpretation flexibility predicts day-to-day ER variability and affective outcomes using a multimethod design. Participants completed a lab-based Interpretation Inflexibility Task (IIT) to assess flexibility in revising interpretations of ambiguous social scenarios, followed by a 14-day tracking of daily emotions and ER strategy use. Multilevel modeling revealed that individuals with higher interpretation flexibility demonstrated greater ER variability and reported less intense negative and positive affect. Interpretation flexibility also accounted for unique variance in ER variability beyond self-reported ER difficulties. These findings show overlap between interpretation flexibility and healthy ER, suggesting that targeting interpretation flexibility may have transfer effects for improving ER.