Positive Emotion Dysregulation Among Community Individuals: The Role of Trauma Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Existing literature has provided support for an association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotion dysregulation. However, few studies have examined the relation between PTSD and emotion dysregulation that stems from positive emotions. Moreover, the role of trauma exposure, per se, on positive emotion dysregulation is unknown. Addressing these limitations, the current study compared levels of positive emotion dysregulation among (a) individuals without trauma exposure, (b) trauma-exposed individuals without probable PTSD, and (c) trauma-exposed individuals with probable PTSD. Participants were 400 community-dwelling individuals (M age = 43.76 years, 68.6% female; 24.2% Asian, 23.7% Black, 24.5% Hispanic, 27.6% White). Lower levels of positive emotion dysregulation were found among trauma-exposed participants without probable PTSD compared to trauma-exposed participants with probable PTSD, ds = 0.66-0.73, and unexposed participants, ds = 0.58-0.64. The present findings suggest the potential protective role of low levels of positive emotion dysregulation following trauma exposure. If replicated in longitudinal studies, these results may indicate the utility of enhancing skills for regulating positive emotions among individuals at risk for trauma exposure.

Moderating effects of dysregulation and fear of positive emotions on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and positive memory count

“…Important variables to consider in this regard are positive emotion dysregulation (i.e., nonacceptance of positive emotions, difficulties engaging in goal‐directed behaviors when experiencing positive emotions, and difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors when experiencing positive emotions) and fear of positive emotions. Notably, such positive emotion constructs are associated with both PTSD severity (Weiss, Contractor, Forkus, Goncharenko, & Raudales, in press; Weiss, Dixon‐Gordon, Peasant, & Sullivan, 2018; Weiss, Nelson, Contractor, & Sullivan, 2020) as well as with memory retrieval (Josephson,1996; Quoidbach, Mikolajczak, & Gross, 2015; Rusting & DeHart, 2000). Thus, the current study examined if the PTSD‐positive memory relationship is influenced and altered by positive emotion dysregulation and fear of positive emotions.…”

“…Additionally, they may exhibit behavioral dyscontrol in the context of positive emotions (Weiss, Tull, Sullivan, Dixon‐Gordon, & Gratz, 2015). Indeed, empirical evidence supports that trauma‐exposed individuals, including those with PTSD severity, are nonaccepting of positive emotions, and have difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors and engaging in goal‐directed behaviors when experiencing positive emotions (Weiss, Contractor, et al, in press; Weiss, Contractor, Raudales, Greene, & Short, 2020).…”

Positive Internal Experiences in PTSD Interventions: A Critical Review

“…Positive internal experiences, for the purposes of the current review, reference subjective experiences of positively-valenced and pleasant memories, cognitions, and emotions. Evidence indicates that trauma/PTSD severity is associated with (1) deficits in positive memory recall, access, and other processes (Contractor, Banducci, et al, 2019; Contractor, Banducci, et al, 2020; Harvey et al, 1998; McNally et al, 1995; Megías et al, 2007; Sutherland & Bryant, 2005); (2) a predominance of negative and reduced positive cognitions (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006; Foa & Kozak, 1986; Janoff-Bulman, 1992) worsened by attentional biases toward negative information/memories (Aupperle et al, 2012; Fani et al, 2012; McNally et al, 1995) and rumination on negative memories prompted by trauma reminders (Ehlers & Clark, 2000); and (3) difficulties experiencing, expressing, and/or regulating intense positive emotions (Litz et al, 2000; Weiss, Contractor, Forkus, et al, 2020; Weiss, Contractor, Raudales, et al, 2020; Weiss et al, 2018; Weiss, Nelson, et al, 2019). Indeed, disturbances in positive internal experiences are at least one of the diagnostic symptoms (D7) of PTSD’s negative alterations in cognitions and mood cluster (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).…”

Moderating effects of sleep difficulties on relations between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and positive memory count

“…Further, arousal symptoms may relate to fewer cognitive resources, in turn reducing positive memory retrieval (Harvey et al, 1998). Also, research has shown that greater reckless behaviors (a PTSD arousal symptom) associate with fewer sensory details and coherence of retrieved positive memories (Banducci et al, 2020), possibly attributed to difficulties regulating positive emotions following positive memory retrieval among individuals with PTSD symptoms (Weiss et al, 2020). Lastly, hypervigilance (a PTSD arousal symptom) may involve biased attention to and appraisal of threatening stimuli and cues (Kimble & Hyatt, 2019), reducing attention to positive experiences and memories.…”