Are emotional reactivity and emotion regulation ability associated with everyday emotional dynamics in depression?

Abstract

In addition to consistent low mood, MDD has been linked to several patterns of everyday emotional dynamics, such as emotional variability, emotional instability and emotional inertia. The exact processes underlying this pattern of emotional dynamics have yet to be determined. The current study assessed the role of variability in negative affect (NA), NA instability and NA inertia in MDD and the effects of emotional reactivity and emotion regulation on these dynamics. Study 1 was conducted in a sample of students. Participants completed self-report measures in an in-laboratory session, before completing six days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to observe emotions in everyday life. The association between NA variability, NA instability and symptoms of depression and the effects of emotional reactivity and emotion regulation were assessed calculating linear regression models. Multilevel mixed effect models were calculated to assess NA inertia. For study 2 the same procedure was repeated in a sample of participants with a history of depression and healthy controls. Results of study 1 showed an association between symptoms of depression on the one hand and NA variability and instability on the other hand. This association may partly be driven by emotional reactivity and emotion regulation ability. Results of study 2 showed that NA variability, instability and inertia are associated with a history of depression. Emotional reactivity emerged as a significant predictor for NA variability and instability, while emotion regulation emerged as a significant predictor for NA variability and inertia. The current study provides preliminary support for the notion that maladaptive patterns of everyday emotional dynamics may be vulnerability factors for the onset or recurrence of depression and that they may be associated with emotional reactivity and difficulties in emotion regulation.