A longitudinal model of emotion pathways to growth, depreciation, and health outcomes after life stress

Anxiety Stress Coping. 2025 Sep 17:1-17. doi: 10.1080/10615806.2025.2558729. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The emotion belief and emotion regulation pathways that shape negative (posttraumatic depreciation; PTD) and positive adaptation (posttraumatic growth; PTG) following daily life stressors are poorly understood. This longitudinal study examined how emotion beliefs and emotion regulation strategies influence PTD and PTG, and subsequent mental (depression, anxiety, stress) and physical health (headaches, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, sleep disturbances) symptoms.

DESIGN AND METHOD: A longitudinal panel design was used. British participants (N = 627) completed an online survey measuring life stressors, emotion beliefs, emotion regulation, PTD and PTG, and mental and physical health at two time points six months apart (October 2021 and April 2022).

RESULTS: The path model explained 18-21% of the variance in mental and physical health outcomes. Cognitive mediation and emotion beliefs were negatively and positively related to PTD. Maladaptive emotion regulation was positively associated with PTD, and worse mental and physical health. Adaptive emotion regulation was positively related to PTG, and less depressive and stress symptoms. PTG was negatively related to depression, and PTD was negatively associated with mental and physical health.

CONCLUSIONS: Distinct pathways to PTD and PTG operate through superordinate emotion beliefs and emotion regulation. Interventions targeting emotion beliefs and emotion regulation may improve mental and physical health following adversity.

PMID:40963154 | DOI:10.1080/10615806.2025.2558729