Testing an Emotion Dysregulation Symptoms Model Based on Sensitivity to Punishment and Reward and the Intensity of Positive and Negative Emotions in Students

Background: The emotion dysregulation model by Mennin and Fresco considers the high comorbidity of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder and pays special attention to their comorbidity. Additionally, due to the high comorbidity of social anxiety disorder as well as anxiety and mood disorders, this disorder was considered along with the last two disorders. This study aimed to assess a conceptual model of emotion dysregulation symptoms based on sensitivity to punishment and reward and the intensity of positive and negative emotions mediated by emotion regulation strategies in students. Methods: In total, 189 students affiliated with the Sharif University were selected by random sampling method. Then, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM), the Sensitivity to Punishment/Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Attention Control Scale (ATTC), the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Responses to Positive Affect questionnaire (RPA) were distributed among them to collect the necessary data. The obtained data were analyzed by LISREL using structural equation modeling. Results: Pearson correlation coefficient data indicated a significant relationship between motivation components, positive and negative emotion regulation strategies, and the symptoms of emotion dysregulation. Chi-squared, GFI, AGFI, CFI, RMSEA, NFI, IFI, and SRMR indices signified that the conceptual model of the research fitted with the collected data; accordingly, the positive and negative strategies of emotion regulation mediated the relationship between motivation and the symptoms of emotion dysregulation. Conclusion: The present research results supported the main hypothesis of the study. Thus, positive and negative emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between sensitivity to punishment and reward and the intensity of positive and negative emotion with the symptoms of emotion dysregulation.