Mediated Role of Emotion Regulation and Time Perspective in Relationship Between Temperamental Traits and Emotional States

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of the mediating effect of emotion regulation and time perspectives on the relationship between neuroticism / extraversion and emotional states. According to J. Gross’s Model of emotion regulation and ideas on the time perspective of F. Zimbardo, it was assumed that emotion regulation strategies and time perspectives mediate the influence of temperamental traits — extroversion and neuroticism — on emotional states. Emotional states were determined through indicators of the severity of positive and negative affects. The study involved 295 university students in Moscow and Arkhangelsk aged 17 to 23 years. It is shown that regulating emotion strategies “cognitive reappraisal”, “catastrophization” and “rumination”, along with ideas about the negative past, partially mediate the influence of neuroticism on the severity of negative affect. The “positive reassessment” strategy and ideas about the future partially mediate the effect of neuroticism on positive affect, in addition — the effect of extraversion on positive affect is partially mediated by “positive reappraisal”. Contrary to expectations, refocusing attention (distraction) showed no significant effect on either positive or negative component of emotional states. The results are discussed in terms of their application in the processes of providing psychological help to persons with high neuroticism.