The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress

Bibliographic Details
Main Author:	Matt, Lindsey M.
Language:	English
Published:	Kent State University / OhioLINK 2018
Subjects:	Psychology emotion differentiation emotion intervention randomized trial
Online Access:	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1534369270673593

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spelling	ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent15343692706735932021-08-03T07:08:05Z The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress Matt, Lindsey M. Psychology emotion differentiation emotion intervention randomized trial Emotion differentiation can be defined as the degree of complexity people use when describing their emotional experiences with language. The use of this nuanced language confers a variety of benefits in the form of engagement in adaptive behaviors and emotion regulatory strategies. However, little work to date has explored whether differentiation can be enhanced by intervention, the potentially beneficial outcomes of doing so, and if there are individual differences that impact the ability to engage in differentiation. In the current investigation we developed an online intervention that targeted emotion word learning. We then explored the impact of this intervention (vs. control) on levels of negative emotion differentiation (NED) as well as symptoms and distress across time. Working memory was also investigated as an individual difference that may enhance or diminish one’s ability to differentiate. Finally, exploratory analyses assessed whether our intervention influenced feelings of emotional self-efficacy. While no significant direct relationships emerged between the intervention and prospective NED or symptoms and distress, post-intervention NED was found to significantly mediate the relationship between intervention condition and symptoms/distress, such that increases in NED in response to the emotion intervention were related to lower levels of symptoms/distress one week later. However, these effects disappeared after controlling for life stress. Working memory was not found to be related to baseline levels of NED nor did it significantly influence NED post-intervention. Lastly, the intervention significantly increased prospective feelings of emotional self-efficacy, which resulted in lower levels of symptoms/distress two months in the future. Our findings suggest that negative emotion differentiation may be malleable in adults in response to a brief online intervention, and that enhancing NED may result in meaningful changes in symptoms. Working memory did not appear to influence these outcomes. Further, the current intervention also appears to enhance feelings of emotional competency, which in turn impacts symptoms. Given the positive psychological outcomes associated with differentiation and self-efficacy, future work should seek to replicate and extend the current findings in more diverse samples. 2018-09-10 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1534369270673593 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1534369270673593 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection	NDLTD
language	English
sources	NDLTD
topic	Psychology emotion differentiation emotion intervention randomized trial
spellingShingle	Psychology emotion differentiation emotion intervention randomized trial Matt, Lindsey M. The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
author	Matt, Lindsey M.
author_facet	Matt, Lindsey M.
author_sort	Matt, Lindsey M.
title	The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
title_short	The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
title_full	The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
title_fullStr	The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
title_full_unstemmed	The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress
title_sort	effects of a brief emotion learning intervention on emotion differentiationabilities, symptoms of psychopathology, and distress
publisher	Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate	2018
url	http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1534369270673593
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The Effects of a Brief Emotion Learning Intervention on Emotion DifferentiationAbilities, Symptoms of Psychopathology, and Distress

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