Emotion regulation in response to discrimination: Exploring the role of self-control and impression management emotion-regulation goals.

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011-

Self-Control*/psychology ; Emotional Regulation* ; Goals*; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Young Adult ; Emotions/physiology ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent

Contending with discrimination can yield a cascade of negative psychological and physiological outcomes which adversely affect health. How individuals manage their emotions in response to discrimination can influence the extent of these negative health outcomes. Research finds, however, that Black and Latine individuals are more likely to use expressive suppression (vs. cognitive reappraisal) in response to discrimination, which is associated with adverse mental health outcomes. In the present research, we explored whether self-control (the ability to manage impulses and regulate thoughts, emotions, and behavior to achieve long-term goals) and impression management emotion-regulation goals (regulating emotions to shape others' perceptions of one's personality and skills) could help explain the differential use of suppression and reappraisal in response to discrimination. Across two cross-sectional studies, we found that Black and Latine participants' everyday discrimination experiences were related to lower self-control and increased impression management emotion-regulation goals. Reduced self-control was, in turn, linked to less use of reappraisal, while impression management emotion-regulation goals were associated with both greater reappraisal and suppression use in response to discrimination. Reappraisal was also related to participants' self-reported depressive symptoms. These findings contribute to our understanding of the factors that are associated with emotion regulation in response to discrimination.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Discrimination; Emotion regulation; Motivation; Self-control

Date Created: 20241104 Date Completed: 20241104 Latest Revision: 20241107

20241108

PMC11535505

10.1038/s41598-024-76934-5

39496655