Maladaptive emotion regulation and attachment dimensions: is the suppression of emotion expression related to attachment insecurity?

Uvod: Povezanost kvaliteta vezanosti i određenih aspekata regulacije emocija bila je predmet brojnih studija. Po nekim shvatanjima, i adaptivne i maladaptivne strategije prevladavanja se mogu posmatrati kao manifestacije sistema vezanosti. U okviru Grosovog modela regulacije emocija, suzbijanje ekspresije emocija se smatra maladaptivnom strategijom, koja je usmerena na emocionalni odgovor i u vezi je sa teškoćama u nekim psihosocijalnim domenima: sa intenzivnijim doživljavanjem negativnih emocija, problemima u interpersonalnoj sferi, nižom psihološkom dobrobiti, itd. Cilj: Cilj ovog istraživanja je da dodatno ispita povezanost između dimenzija vezanosti sa maladaptivnom regulacijom emocija. Metode: Dimenzije vezanosti su procenjene Upitnikom za procenu afektivnog vezivanja koji obuhvata 7 supskala: Korišćenje spoljašnje baze sigurnosti, Strah od gubitka spoljašnje baze sigurnosti, Nerazrešena porodična traumatizacija, Negativan model selfa, Negativan model drugih, Slaba regulacija besa i Kapacitet za mentalizaciju. Suzbijanje ekspresije emocija, koje predstavlja maladaptivnu strategiju regulacije emocija, procenjeno je Upitnikom o regulaciji emocija (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire). Iz inicijalnog uzorka (N=190) su izdvojene dve grupe: 1) ispitanici (N1=61) čiji su skorovi na skali Suzbijanje ekspresije emocija ispod prvog kvartila („nisko suzbijanje”) i 2) ispitanici (N2=62) sa skorovima iznad trećeg kvartila na istoj skali („visoko suzbijanje”). Učesnici u istraživanju su bili studenti specijalne edukacije i rehabilitacije sa Univerziteta u Beogradu. Rezultati: T-test za nezavisne uzorke je ukazao na značajno niže skorove na skalama Korišćenje spoljašnje baze sigurnosti (t=6,115; df=121; p<0,001) i Strah od gubitka spoljašnje baze sigurnosti (t=2,391; df=121; p<0,05), a povišene skorove na skalama Negativan model selfa (t=-3,543; df=121; p<0,001), Negativan model drugih (t=-2,871; df=121; p<0,01) i Slaba regulacija besa (t=-2,411; df=121; p<0,05) u grupi u kojoj je suzbijanje bilo učestalije (tzv. „visoko suzbijanje”). Zaključak: Prema dobijenim rezultatima, ispitanici koji češće suzbijaju izražavanje emocija takođe imaju i odlike vezanosti tipične za nesigurne obrasce vezanosti. Nalazi predstavljaju potvrdu maladaptivne prirode suzbijanja ekspresije emocija kao uobičajene regulatorne strategije.Introduction: The relationship between attachment quality and certain aspects of emotion regulation was demonstrated in numerous studies. By some evidence, both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies may be viewed as manifestations of the attachment system. Within the Gross’ model of emotion regulation, suppression of emotion expression is considered to be a maladaptive response-focused emotion regulation strategy, associated with difficulties in certain psycho-social domains: higher levels of negative emotions, interpersonal dysfunction, less wellbeing, etc. Aim: The goal of this study was to further explore a link between attachment dimensions with maladaptive emotion regulation. Methods: Attachment dimensions were assessed by the Questionnaire for Attachment Assessment, comprising 7 subscales: Use of Secure Base, Anxiety about Losing Secure Base, Unresolved Family Traumatization, Negative Working Model of Self, Negative Working Model of Others, Poor Anger Regulation, and Capacity for Mentalization. Suppression of emotion expression as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. From the initial sample (N=190) two groups were formed: 1) respondents (N1=61) with scores on Suppression of emotion expression scale below the first quartile (“low suppression”) and 2) those (N2=62) with scores above the third quartile on the same scale of ERQ (“high suppression”). Subjects were special education and rehabilitation students from the University of Belgrade. Results: T-test for independent samples revealed significantly lower scores on the scales Use of Secure Base (t=6.115; df=121; p<.001) and Anxiety about Losing Secure Base (t=2.391; df=121, p<.05), and higher scores on Negative Working Model of Self (t=-3.543; df=121; p<.001), Negative Working Model of Others (t=-2.871; df=121; p<.01) and Poor Anger Regulation (t=-2.411; df=121; p<.05) in the “high suppression” group. Conclusion: According to the results, subjects who suppress emotion expression more also report the characteristics of attachment typical for insecure attachment patterns. These findings confirm the maladaptive nature of expressive suppression as a usual emotion regulation strategy