Regulation of emotion and psychological symptoms in people with spinal cord injury

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examined the contribution of regulation of emotion on depression, symptoms of traumatic and general distress, perceived disability, and somatic symptoms following spinal cord injury. Depressed and non-depressed participants (N = 264, mean age = 46 years) differed in their use of adaptive and maladaptive ways of regulating emotions. In addition to somatic symptoms and symptoms of traumatic stress, maladaptive emotional regulation (avoidance and distortion of awareness) accounted for 8% of the total variance of depression. It is concluded that adaptive and maladaptive ways of regulating emotions are important factors in dealing with negative feelings. Regulation of emotion appears to influence perceived disability mainly via depression. Limitations of the study and implications for rehabilitation are discussed.