Date of Award

4-23-2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

Throughout history there has been anecdotal, observational and empirical evidence, as well as entire theoretical frameworks indicating that there are differences between men and women when it comes to emotional expression and regulation. For example, differences exist in how and why different emotions are felt in a given circumstance for men versus women and what behaviors these emotions elicit in others. Yet despite these differences the same questionnaires are used to assess emotion regulation. Furthermore, the same diagnostic criteria are used to assess mood disorders in men and women. In the present study the domains of emotion regulation assessed are: 1) alexithymia: problems with identifying, labeling and expressing negative emotion 2) cognitive problems and coping strategies in emotion regulation, and 3) behavioral problems and coping strategies in emotion regulation. Through extensive evaluation and comparison of subscales present in three widely used emotion regulation questionnaires, relative to depressed mood (the Beck Depression Inventory) and gender this study sought to determine:

1. Which of the three domains of emotion regulation (alexithymia, cognitive, or behavioral), if any, interact with gender in predicting the number and severity of depression symptoms?

2. Which emotion regulation domain involves the most problem and coping constructs that, in turn interact with gender to predict depression?

Included in

Psychology Commons

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Faculty Mentor

Dr. David Stein