Emotion Regulation Goals and Strategies of Individuals with Low Distress Tolerance

Abstract Studies have shown that goals determine strategies in the emotion regulation processes. However, poor distress tolerance is related to a higher use of maladaptive strategies. This research examines the relationships between distress tolerance, goals, and strategies of emotion regulation. Furthermore, it investigates the daily goals and strategies of individuals with low distress tolerance. In Study 1, students at the University of Tehran (N = 258; Mean age = 22.63) completed self-report measures; in the next study, the students with low distress tolerance (N = 78; Mean age = 21.7) recorded their daily goals and strategies for 14 consecutive days. Linear regression and multilevel modeling were used to analyze the data from Study 1 and 2, respectively. Distress tolerance was negatively associated with impression management and pro-social goals, as well as experiential avoidance, expressive suppression, and rumination strategies. Moreover, distress tolerance predicted a higher use of cognitive reappraisal. In Study 2, impression management goals and experiential avoidance had more frequency and stability (trait). Across both studies, impression management goals were related to a greater use of experiential avoidance, expressive suppression, and rumination. Additionally, pro-hedonic goals were positively related to cognitive reappraisal and negatively related to expressive suppression. However, the findings regarding the relationships between pro-social goals and strategies were mixed. The current studies indicate that the ability to tolerate distress has a significant impact on emotion regulation goals as well as strategies. Moreover, different strategies are predicted by different goals at the habitual and daily levels, and in general and low distress tolerance populations.