Interpersonal emotion regulation: associations with attachment and reinforcement sensitivity

Abstract

Interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) refers to a group of emotion regulation strategies that involve utilization of other people with the purpose of modifying the emotional process that one is going through. Despite its importance, only a limited number of studies have examined this process. The aim of the present study is to explore the attachment and reinforcement sensitivity patterns that may be associated with tendency to use IER. Data were collected from a community sample composed of 433 (338 women; between ages 18 and 62) individuals, through online administration of scales assessing IERQ, attachment pattern and reinforcement sensitivity. Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated significant associations of IER dimensions with measures of attachment and reinforcement sensitivity. Present findings indicate individual differences in attachment patterns and reinforcement sensitivity as factors that may be linked to adoption of various IER strategies.