(PS1-33) Anxiety Fosters Greater Maladaptive Interpersonal Emotion Regulation and Stress

Abstract Text:

Background: Depression has long been associated with the generation of additional life stressors (Hammen, 1991; Davila et al., 1995; Meyer & Curry, 2017). However, preliminary evidence suggests that anxious people may produce more life stressors for themselves as well, particularly given their shared etiology (Meyer & Curry, 2017). Excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) is a maladaptive interpersonal emotion regulation (ER) strategy that aims to ease distress from uncertainty about how one is perceived by significant others (Coyne, 1976). ERS, traditionally linked to depression and stress, is also implicated in anxiety disorders (Cougle et al., 2012). To date, no study has examined ERS behavior as potential a mediator between anxiety and stress generation. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between anxiety and stress generation and examine ERS as a potential mediator.

Methods: Participant were 130 college students and community members (Mage = 23.21; 61.7% female) who completed measures of depression and anxiety (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21; DASS-21), reassurance seeking (Depressive Interpersonal Relationships Inventory – Reassurance Seeking subscale; DIRI-RS), and negative stressful life events (Negative Life Events Questionnaire; NLEQ). Mediation models were used to examine the mediation of ERS on anxiety and stress generation while controlling for depression.

Results: Anxiety had a significant positive relationship with increased stress generation and ERS (r = .41, .35, respectively, both ps < .001). ERS behavior was associated with increased stress generation (r = .49, p < .001). Controlling for depression, anxiety predicted reassurance seeking (b = .30, t = 2.53, p = .012), but not stress generation (b = .18, t = 1.66, p = .098). ERS also significantly predicted increased stress (b = .39, t = 4.88, p < .001). Finally, there was a significant small indirect effect of anxiety on stress generation through greater ERS behavior, β = .12, b = .08, bias-corrected 95% CI [.01, .24]. Overall, the variables in the model accounted for 18% of the variance in depression, R2 = .18.

Conclusion: Results of this study support the proposed model of ERS as a mediator between anxiety and more stressful life events. More specifically, ERS behavior may serve as a proximal predictor of stress generation. Anxious people may seek support to reduce worry but often perceive or create more stress in the process. Future studies may benefit from examining these processes in daily life and through daily diary or ecological momentary assessment.