The mediating role of emotion dysregulation strategies on the relationship between negative emotion intensity and safety motivation with generalized anxiety symptoms

Recent research investigated the role of the emotion dysregulation in the development and maintenance of anxiety symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of emotion dysregulation strategies on the relationship between negative emotion intensity and safety motivation system with anxiety symptoms. A total of 621 students (392 females, 229 males) from the universities in Tehran participated in the study. Participants completed the Farsi version of Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire-short form (MASQ-SF), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), Attentional Control Scale (ACS), Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ), Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). The results demonstrated that negative emotion intensity had a positive significant association with safety motivation. Moreover, among the emotion regulation strategies, attentional control component from attending and allowing emotion regulation strategies had a negative significant association with anxious arousal. Body awareness component from attending and reappraisal did not play a significant mediating role on the relationship between negative emotion intensity, safety motivation and anxiety symptoms. However, other emotion regulation strategies played a significant mediating role. Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that development of anxiety symptoms are influenced by attending, allowing, and distancing strategies. Therefore, considering these emotion regulation strategies can result in better understanding of anxiety symptoms and more effective treatments.