Attachment Styles, Personality Organization, and Substance Use as Predictors of Emotion Regulation Strategies “Suppression” and “Reappraisal” in Young Adults

Abstract

BackgroundAs evidenced by current literature, there is a crucial link between emotion regulation, attachment, personality patterns, and substance abuse. However, knowledge regarding the exact interactions of these specific parameters in terms of substance abuse development is still sparse. Therefore, this study is aimed to shed light on how two specific emotion regulation strategies (“Reappraisal” and “Suppression”) might be influenced by the relationship between attachment, structural deficits in personality organization, and addictive behaviors.MethodA total sample of 299 non-clinical young adults (Age: M = 22; SD = 3.81; 74.2% females) filled in the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) together with the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), the Personality Organization Inventory (IPO-16), and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening (ASSIST) by means of an online survey.ResultsAs suggested by hierarchical regression analysis, attachment specifically predicted differences in Emotion Regulation (ER), whereby the AAS subscales “Close” ness (β = −0.38, p < 0.01) and “Depend” ence (β = –0.18, p < 0.01) were negatively associated with increased use of maladaptive strategies of expressional suppression of emotion, and “Depend” (β = 0.26, p < 0.01) was positively associated with increased use of adaptive strategies of cognitive reappraisal.DiscussionIn line with our assumptions, we observed a more secure attachment system to be predictive for an increased use of adequate emotion regulation strategies. The findings support the suggestion that a focus on underlying attachment-related processes in a psychotherapeutic setting might be a promising way to promote adaptive self-regulation of emotions.

The Role of Attachment in Gambling Behaviors and Gambling Disorder: A Systematic Review

“…In sum, individuals with insecure attachment, having difficulty regulating their emotions, are more prone to engage in addictive behaviors, such as gambling, as a way to satisfy their attachment needs (Flores, 2004). In fact, there is a huge number of studies which support the hypothesized link between attachment and addictive behaviors (e.g., Burgkart et al, 2022).…”

The effect of emotion regulation strategies on nomophobia in college students: The masking role of resilience

“…Emotional adaptation has been shown to have a significant impact on nomophobia, and individuals with nomophobia tend to adopt dysfunctional coping strategies [ 32 , 33 ]. Cognitive reappraisal is generally regarded as an adaptive strategy, and expressive suppression as a maladaptive coping strategy [ 34 ]. As such, maladaptive emotion regulation may cause behavioral disorders such as nomophobia, and adaptive emotion regulation strategies may alleviate nomophobia symptoms.…”