Emotion Regulation Profiles Associate with Individual Differences in Mental Health Outcomes During a Global Pandemic Context

Abstract

Emotion regulation (ER) is central to mental health and well-being. Yet, we have limited understanding of how individuals regulate their emotions during a context that is highly uncertain and uncontrollable—a global pandemic. Moreover, despite people's use of a variety of ER strategies, the conventional norm of ER studies is to only focus on the impact of one strategy without simultaneously capturing multiple ER strategies to understand individuals’ ER profiles. Objectives: Using a data-driven person-centered approach, we first identified individuals’ ER profiles. Second, we examined how ER profiles may be associated with a variety of mental health outcomes during a global pandemic. Method: We recruited 1,302 participants during the initial outbreak and lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Results: Based on eight ER strategies (i.e., positive reframing, problem solving, seeking support, acceptance, denial, using substances, venting, and rumination), we identified five distinct latent ER profiles: Low Regulator, Adaptive Regulator, Denier, Substance User, and Maladaptive Regulator. The Maladaptive Regulator exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness than those from other ER profiles, whereas individuals in the Adaptive Regulator profile reported the highest levels of psychological well-being. Conclusion: ER profiles may be an intervention target for reducing psychological burdens in uncertain and stressful circumstances, such as a pandemic.