MPA 2017

*Presentations authored/co-authored by student mentees.
 

Depression and Anxiety (Internalizing) Disorders

*Roenigk, T., Smith, R., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). The role of social anxiety and suppression on distress chronicity. Paper presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Social anxiety is marked by intense feelings of nervousness and fear of negative evaluation during social situations. Those with elevated social anxiety symptoms experience greater distress than their healthy peers when exposed to interpersonal stress; the chronicity of such distress is not known. A growing literature also suggests that those who experience social anxiety are more likely to engage in ineffective emotion regulation (ER) to reduce their distress. Expressive suppression, the inhibition of emotional displays, is one ineffective ER response that is associated with social anxiety and prolonged distress. However, some studies suggest that suppression effectively reduces distress in the short-term under laboratory conditions. The present study aimed to examine whether: (1) social anxiety is associated with a more enduring course of distress following an interpersonal stressor and (2) if suppression mediated the effect of social anxiety on the time course of distress.
• Procedure. 49 students (57% male, M= 23.49, SD= 6.24) completed measures of social anxiety, expressive suppression, and affect (endorsing feeling "nervous" and "scared"). Participants completed an interpersonal stressor (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) that involved speaking and counting backwards in front of researchers. Ratings were collected at baseline, immediately after, 60s after, and 120s after TSST.
• Results. The interpersonal stress task induced significant feelings of anxiety relative to baseline levels. Elevated social anxiety symptoms predicted higher feelings of anxiety across the baseline, interpersonal stressor, and recovery periods (bs= .06- .14, ps<.01), and stronger increases in anxiety following the interpersonal stress task and the first 60s recovery period (partial Eta Squared= .09-.14, ps<.05). Contrary to expectation, social anxiety was unrelated to the use of state emotional suppression during the interpersonal stress task. However, social anxiety was associated with trait suppression (r= .34, p <. 05). The use of state suppression predicted greater levels of distress during the first 60s rest period (b= .40, p<.05) and a trend for slower declines in distress during the second 60s rest period (partial Eta Squared= .07, p= .07).
• Conclusions. Our findings suggest that while social anxiety is linked to increased emotional arousal and slow declines proximally to the interpersonal stressor, emotion regulation appears to influence distal experience of distress. These findings suggest that targeting emotional suppression may reduce the maintenance of distressing emotions experienced by socially anxious individuals and decrease associated avoidant behaviors that maintain social anxiety.  

*Ghose, S. & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Smoking Risk Factors: Diminished Response to Hedonic Stimuli and Trait-Negative Affectivity.  Paper presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Smoking is associated with both positive (PA) and negative (NA) affective states. With respect to NA, smoking is one self-regulatory response aimed at reducing distress. With respect to PA, smoking behaviors often occur in the context of hedonic interpersonal situations. Over time, however, smoking is linked to reduced PA and increased NA. A growing literature links parasympathetic nervous activity (PNS) to the experience of NA and PA states. However, while some studies show that smoking is associated with reduced PNS activity, it remains unclear whether this association is a function of NA and PA. Further, studies linking PNS activity to smoking behavior measure PNS during resting states. Thus, the relationship between PNS changes in response to PA- and NA-related states is unclear.  The present study investigates the relationships between PNS activity at rest and in response to hedonic and dysphoric stimuli, trait affect, and smoking behavior in an adult community sample.
• Methods. Participants were 85 adults (64% female, Mage  = 31, SD = 12.89) who completed measures of smoking behavior, Trait Affectivity (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule), and a psychophysiology protocol during which PNS was measured via Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) at rest (free breathing resting baseline) and while viewing emotional film clips ("The Champ" and "Wall-E"). RSA reactivity was quantified as the difference between the free breathing condition film conditions. Age and sex were covaried in all analyses.
• Results. While trait PA, resting RSA, and RSA reactivity to the sad film clip were unrelated to smoking behavior, trait NA and RSA reactivity to the hedonic film clip robustly predicted smoking status. Specifically, those who smoked evidenced  higher NA levels (OR = 1.08, p < .05), and a robust RSA withdrawal to the film clip (OR = 1.92,  p  <. 05). 
• Conclusion. These findings support NA as a correlate of smoking, and provide novel evidence on the role of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is particularly notable that PNS reactivity to hedonic stimuli, rather than to the dysphoric mood induction, emerged as a predictor of smoking status. This specificity may point to subtle deficits hedonic capacity, and may suggest that physiological processes could be helpful in detecting risk factors for smoking behavior.  Clarifying such risk factors would allow for more effective detection and intervention strategies to be developed.

 

Borderline Personality Disorder

*Napolitano, S., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Maladaptive emotion regulation mediates BPD interpersonal ER outcomes. Paper presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by unstable interpersonal relationships and anger which reflect poor emotion regulation (ER). Many studies note the frequent use of ineffective dispositional ER responses among those with BPD. However, there is a dearth of work focusing on the role of adaptive interpersonal ER responses among those with BPD. This is surprising, as seeking forgiveness is a common ER strategy in response to interpersonal conflict. Further, it remains unclear whether maladaptive ER repertoires modify the effectiveness of adaptive interpersonal ER responses. The present study examined the role of BPD symptoms and dispositional maladaptive ER on the effectiveness of interpersonal forgiveness that was initiated from an external source following and interpersonal exclusion and interpersonal aggression task.
• Methods. Seventy-six (n=76) community dwelling adults (67% female, Mage=30.67, S=12.73) completed a measure of BPD (Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Subscale), a measure of adaptive and maladaptive ER (Feelings and Me), and multiple NA-anger subscale ratings following an interpersonal exclusion task (Cyberball) and an interpersonal competitive task in a lab setting. Participants engaged with a computerized opponent during the competitive task and were sent a pre-fabricated apology afterwards.
• Results. The CRT induced increased feelings of anger relative to baseline levels (t=2.27, p<.05), that did not vary as a function of BPD or maladaptive ER. Consistent with expectation, BPD symptoms predicted a greater use of maladaptive ER responses (OR=1.11, p<.001). Repeated measures ANCOVAs revealed significant effects of BPD and maladaptive ER repertoires on the time course of angry affect. Specifically, while the "opponent's" apology decreased anger for those at low levels of maladaptive ER, the apology resulted in marked increase in angry affect among those at high levels of maladaptive ER. Interestingly, independent of ER, elevated BPD symptoms were associated with decreased angry affect following the apology.
• Conclusion. These findings support that for those with high levels of maladaptive ER, common interpersonal ER strategies like apologizing may backfire, as anger of the recipient markedly increased post-apology. These findings suggest that interpersonal dysregulation that is common among those with BPD may be a function of maladaptive ER, and that external interpersonal efforts to reduce distress may be iatrogenic. The implications are hopeful, as they suggest that targeting maladaptive ER may increase the efficacy of interpersonal regulation efforts. 

*Napolitano, S., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Rumination after interpersonal stressors is a specific risk for BPD. In Yaroslavsky (Chair) Why now, but not later?: Emotion regulation across development & diagnosis. Symposium conducted at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is linked to maladaptive emotion regulation responses that predict intense, unstable interpersonal relationships and dysregulated affects. Contemporary models of BPD posit rumination, a maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation response, as mechanism by those with BPD experience dysregulated affects. However, it remains unclear whether dysregulated affects are linked to rumination in general, or whether specific situations, such as interpersonal stressors, are key contexts to which those with BPD are sensitized. The present study tests key facets of the Emotional Cascade model in a sample of community dwelling adults to examine whether BPD symptoms are associated with rumination in response to non-interpersonal dysphoric states or specifically to interpersonal stress under well controlled laboratory conditions and in participants' daily lives.
• Methods. Community dwelling adults (N=79, 65% female, Mage= 30.78, SD = 1.44) completed a measure of BPD, and an experimental protocol during which they were induced into negative mood states by watching a sad film clip and via the Cyberball Task. Negative affect (NA) ratings were collected at baseline and, along with state ruminative responses, following both mood induction conditions.  Participants then completed a 7-day ecological momentary assessment protocol during which momentary and hourly peak NA (sad, nervous, upset, angry, frustrated, stressed affects), and ruminative responses during periods of peak NA were ascertained 5 times daily. Contextual information surrounding peak NA determined whether the period was linked to an interpersonal stressor. 
• Results. Repeated measures analyses revealed that while state rumination was associated with increased negative affect following both mood induction procedures, BPD symptoms predicted increased state rumination only following the Cyberball task, F(1, 73) = 5.97, p <. 05. The robust links between BPD symptoms, rumination after interpersonal events, and distress was supported in participants' daily lives. Specifically, elevated BPD symptoms predicted heightened tendencies to ruminate following interpersonal stressors (relative to non-interpersonal stressors) (b=2.19, p <.001), and rumination, in turn, predicted an enduring course of negative affect (b=.81, p <.01).
• Conclusion. Rumination in response to interpersonal stress reflects a specific pathway through which individuals with elevated BPD symptoms experience distress. These findings are consistent with the Emotional Cascade model, which suggests that rumination fuels emotion and behavioral dysregulation. These findings are clinically important as they identify a key context by which those with BPD symptoms are at increased risk for engaging in maladaptive ER. 

*Napolitano, S., Richmond, J., Bodenbender, B., Najjar, K., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Emotion regulation mediates effects of exclusion in borderline personality disorder. Poster presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships and emotion regulation (ER) deficits (APA, 2013). Those with BPD symptoms become easily distressed in response to perceived interpersonal slights. Further, those with BPD often engage in ineffective ER that exacerbates their distress (maladaptive ER), and are less likely to deploy responses that reduce distress in the short- and long-term (adaptive ER). However, it remains unclear whether the use of adaptive and maladaptive ER account for the distress to interpersonal stressors experienced by those with BPD. The present study examines whether the use of dispositional adaptive and maladaptive ER mediates the effect of BPD on distress after interpersonal exclusion.
• Methods: Seventy-six (n=76) community dwelling adults (67% female, Mage= 30.67, SD = 12.73) completed a measure of BPD (Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Subscale), a measure of dispositional adaptive and maladaptive emotion regulation (Feelings and Me), and negative affect ratings taken from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedules immediately prior and after the interpersonal exclusion task (Cyberball) during a single lab session.
• Results. BPD symptoms significantly predicted greater levels maladaptive ER (b=.46, p < .001) and lower levels of adaptive ER (b = -.22, p =.01). Maladaptive ER significantly predicted change in NA following interpersonal exclusion (b =.14, p = .01), but adaptive ER did not. Mediation analyses revealed that the effects of BPD symptoms on NA were fully via maladaptive ER (indirect effect = .06, 95% CI .02-.14, p=.01).
• Conclusion. The findings suggest that maladaptive ER is a specific pathway by which those with elevated BPD symptoms experience increased distress from interpersonal slights. Therefore, interventions that reduce the use of maladaptive ER responses may be particularly helpful for those with elevated BPD symptoms. It is notable that adaptive ER, while lower for those with BPD symptoms, was unrelated to distress. These suggest reducing maladaptive ER may be a more fruitful target for intervention efforts that increasing adaptive ER repertoires. 

*Oravec, K., Smith, R., Bola, P., Reitman, M., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Identifying emotional hyperarousal in Borderline Personality Disorder. Poster presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is linked with emotional hyperarousal that may manifest across affective, physiological, and behavioral domains.  However, studies that examine emotional hyperarousal in BPD primarily rely on self-report measure. This approach is limited because it relies on unbiased responding and self-knowledge that may be lacking among those with BPD. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) may provide further insights into emotional hyperarousal experienced by those with BPD, given its links to emotional states and emotion dysregulation. Behavioral indices such vocal characteristics may provide additional insights into emotional hyperarousal, as pitch, variability, and range of speech have all been linked to emotional distress. Surprisingly, there are now studies that integrate these parameters with respect to BPD risk. The present study seeks to examine BPD symptoms with profiles of self-report, PNS indices, and vocal characteristic changes in response to interpersonal stress, a notable evocative condition for those with BPD.
• Method: Fifty-six students (57% male, M = 23.46 years old, SD = 6.10) completed a psychophysiology protocol during which baseline was collected while participant read the consent document out loud (2 min) and completed an interpersonal stress task (Trier Social Stress Test) while their voice and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded. Subjective distress was measured via items from the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule that was administered following the baseline and stress induction procedures. Speech qualities and indices of the PNS (Heart Rate and Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia) were calculated during baseline and stress tasks. 
• Results. Elevated BPD symptoms were linked to higher levels of negative affect at baseline, (F (1,21) = 9.48, p < .01, Low BPD M=7.28, High BPD M = 13.54), and in response to the interpersonal stressor, (F (1,18) = 5.37, p < .05, Low BPD M=1.91, High BPD M = 16.07). Those with elevated BPD levels also evidenced notable reduction in the variability of their vocal pitch (M = -3.19) relative to their low BPD counterparts (M = 6.29), F (1,18) = 5.92, p < .05, suggesting a marked increase in their stress levels. 
• Conclusion. These findings provide support for the use of multiple indices in examining emotional hyperarousal among those with BPD symptoms. While tempered by a low sample size, our findings still suggest that vocal characteristics, a robust indicator of stress, may be particularly useful when examining emotional hyperarousal. 

*Scamaldo, K., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Personality and physiologic links between BPD and daily substance use. Paper presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is marked by impulsive behaviors that may predispose these persons to engage in alcohol and substance use. Emerging evidence shows that autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in the form of altered parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity is correlated with BPD, and may contribute to impulsive behaviors. However, this work was cross-sectional, and did not examine the role that BPD plays in these associations. Thus it remains unclear how autonomic deficits predict substance use among those with BPD features. The present study aims to clarify these relationships by examining tendencies to use substances in daily life among individuals with BPD features.
• Methods. Participants were 116 females (Mage=20.42, SD=2.97) who completed measures of BPD (Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline subscale) and impulsivity (Negative Urgency of the UPPS-P scale). ANS activity was collected during a 3 minute resting baseline. SNS activity was indexed by the time period between the contraction of the left ventricle and the opening of the aortic valve. PNS activity was indexed by heart rate variability during breathing frequencies. Participants then completed a week-long ecological momentary assessment protocol in which they responded to prompts about their alcohol and substance use 7 times daily.
• Results. BPD robustly predicted impulsivity (β=.36, p <.001) and daily drug use (OR = 1.25, p <.01). Impulsivity, in turn, predicted daily drug use (OR = 3.86,  p < .05), and mediated the effects of BPD on drug use (indirect effect =  .06, p < .05). Contrary to expectation, BPD was unrelated to both indices of ANS activity, both alone and in conjunction. However, elevated resting PNS activity predicted daily drug use (OR = 2.82, p < .05). Further, elevated resting PNS activity emerged as the sole predictor of alcohol use (OR = 1.41, p <.05).
• Conclusion. Findings suggest that those with elevated BPD symptoms are at risk for substance use, in no small part, due to their tendencies to engage in impulsive behaviors. Thus, intervention efforts should consider targeting impulsivity in the context of BPD treatment to reduce the risk for substance use. Interestingly, high level of PNS activity, a purportedly protective factor, was also related to elevated substance and alcohol use. As PNS is a complex system, future work should measure PNS across multiple states.  

*Ward, J., Richmond, J., Najjar, K., Golias, L., Bodenbender, B., Ponomariova, I. & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Emotion regulation as a mediator of abuse and depression. Poster presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Childhood abuse is well recognized as a risk factor for depression in adulthood. However, differential effects of abuse, parental source, and the mechanisms by which these effects confer depression remain largely unknown. Emotion regulation difficulties, which are commonly associated with childhood abuse and depression, may be understood as a failure to regulate emotions before they manifest via antecedent-focused responses, such as negative explanatory style (NES), and to attenuate intensity after occurrence through response-focused strategies (affective suppression, cognitive reappraisal). The present study aimed to test the differential effects of abuse type and source in the development of ER deficits in depressive symptoms via the process model of ER (Gross, 1998). Specifically, the present study aimed to test the intervening role of NES and ER between childhood histories of psychological and physical abuse, and depression in adulthood, as a function of abuse type and source.
• Methods. Participants were 468 undergraduate students (female = 65.1%; MAGE = 20.17, SD = 4.71) who completed measures of emotion regulation (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale), and explanatory style (Cognitive Style Questionnaire). Mediation analyses, via affective suppression and cognitive reappraisal, were performed upon the relationship between abuse source and type, NES, and depressive symptoms.
• Results. Controlling for age and gender, significant associations emerged between depression and abuse, across type and source, except for paternal physical abuse (maternal: psychological (r = .30, p < .001), physical (r = .50, p < .001); paternal: psychological (r = .35, p < .001) physical abuse (r = .14, p = .36). Only paternal psychological abuse emerged as a predictor of NES (b = .01, p = .05). Regardless of abuse type or source, NES significantly predicted reappraisal (b = -1.98, p < .01), which, in turn, significantly predicted depressive symptoms (b = - .47, p < .01). NES only predicted suppression for paternal psychological abuse (b = -.75, p = .05) and maternal physical abuse (b = .79, p = .03) Affective suppression predicted depressive symptoms regardless of abuse source and type (b = .26, p < .01).
• Conclusion. These findings suggest that while abuse is generally associated with depressive symptoms, it imposes harmful effects on ER strategies that may be differential to abuse source and type. Clinical implications are discussed.

*Ward, J., Griesmer, A., Richmond, J., Golias, L., Ponomariova, I., Bodenbender, B., Najjar, K., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). The relationship between abuse and treatment among a community sample. Poster presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment-seeking behavior of individuals who have historically or recently been exposed to physical or sexual abuse. Specifically, we sought to examine the differences in treatment seeking for individuals exposed to complex abuse, via multiple life stage occurrences and types of abuse, to individuals who experience abuse singularly at one point in their lifespan.
• Methods. Participants were 149 undergraduate students (68% female, Mage 23.39, SD = 7.91). Participants completed the General Information Sheet (GIS). This study was a quantitative, exploratory study, focused on the relationship between abuse and psychological treatment, for individuals exposed to either physical or sexual abuse. Correlation analyses were performed upon current (within the past year) and past (more than one year ago) type(s) of treatment received by individuals with either current or past experiences of abuse.
• Results. Significant associations emerged between abuse type and treatment type. Of the 149 participants, 33 reported exposure to physical abuse (past: n = 26, current: n= 7), and 25 reported exposure to sexual abuse (past: n = 21, current: n = 4). Just under half of the participants (48.48%) reported multiple exposures to abuse (past sexual & past physical n = 11, past sexual & current physical n = 4, current sexual & current physical n = 1). A significant correlation emerged between past and current physical abuse (r = .18, p < .05). There was a significant correlation between past sexual abuse and individual psychotherapy (r = .21, p < .05), and current physical abuse and group therapy (r = .23, p < .01). Past physical abuse was significantly correlated with individual psychotherapy (r = .30, p < .01), group therapy (r = .35, p < .01), and family/couples therapy (r = .32, p < .01). Interestingly, there were no significant correlations between current sexual abuse and any treatment type.
• Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that exposure to abuse may result in various treatment seeking tendencies, which appear to be correlated with abuse type, complexity of abuse exposure, and prior or recent exposure to abuse. Clinical implications are discussed.

 

Cultural Differences in Emotion Regulation and Internalizing Disorders

*Najjar, K., Gaynier, L., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). An examination of attributional styles and depression risk in Arab Americans. Paper presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction. Negative attributional styles (NAS) place the causes of life events as self-generated, enduring, and pervasive. Such negative causal attributions worsen the already adverse effects of stress, and are a strong risk factor for depression. However, research on NAS has been largely confined to European populations, raising the question as to whether NAS carry similar risks to people of other cultures. The few cross-cultural studies that examine this topic showed that NAS are a more pernicious risk factor for depression among participants hailing from a collectivistic culture (e.g., Asians cultures) as compared to those of individualistic culture (e.g., U.S.). The Arab demographic continues to grow in the US, yet there is little published research regarding the NAS of this group. Given that the Arab culture is collectivistic, their NAS may function differently as a risk factor for depression as compared to their Western peers. The present study examined the role of culture in the relationship between negative attributional styles and depression risk among those of Arab and non-Arab backgrounds.
• Methods.  Arab (n=38) and non-Arab Americans (N=70) (83% female, Mage=27.90 years, SD=8.98) were recruited nationally through Arab-American affiliated contacts and organizations, and various social media platforms. Participants completed surveys on negative attributional style (CSQ) and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Arabs also completed a measure of acculturation (Arab Identity Scale).
• Results. Arab Americans exhibited more negative NAS relative to their non-Arab peers, (β= -.29, t(64) = 2.45, p <. 05). Post-hoc probes revealed that while NAS intensified the effects of stress on depression for non-Arabs, a reverse pattern emerged whereby high levels of NAS served a protective role for Arab Americans. Further, an examination of acculturation in the relationship between stress, NAS, and depression symptoms revealed that the protective effects NAS were only present for Arabs who held traditional values. In contrast, NAS was a risk factor for elevated depression symptoms in the presence of stress for Arabs who did not identify with an Arab identity, akin to non-Arabs.
• Conclusion. Findings suggest that traditional risk factors for depression, like NAS, may not hold across Arab and Western cultures. Specifically, having a NAS is not a significant depression risk factor among Arab Americans who hold a strong Arab identity. However, Arab Americans who are more acculturated and use NAS are at a more elevated risk for depression during times of stress than non-Arab Americans who engage NAS.

*Khalid, S., Oravec, K., Smith, R., Bolla, P., Reitman, M., & Yaroslavsky, I. (2017, April). Examining cultural differences in social anxiety and emotional suppression. Poster presented at the 89th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

• Introduction: Suppression is a maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) response that is linked to the risk for internalizing disorders. While emotional suppression is a norm in collectivistic cultures such as Asian and South Asian cultures, emerging evidence suggests suppression is adaptive in non-Western cultures. Also, there is mounting evidence that suggests a strong association between emotional suppression and social anxiety. However, much of the literature examining social anxiety and suppression has relied on cross-sectional self-report measures, and little work has examined cultural difference on the outcomes of suppression in a laboratory setting. Purpose of the study was to examine cultural differences in the effects of suppression on negative affect after sadness and interpersonal stress mood inductions across South-East/South Asian and Caucasian participants
• Method: Fifty-six participants (Mage = 23.46, SD = 6.096; n=28 South East Asian/South Asians) completed an experimental protocol that included a sad mood and interpersonal stress mood inductions via a sad film clip and the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Affect ratings were collected at baseline and after each task, and state suppression was collected following each task.    
• Results: Both mood induction tasks evoked significant feelings of distress (ΔMNA = 3.02-6.80, t= 10.52-15.42, p <.01). Contrary to expectation, those of South East Asian/South Asian backgrounds did not differ in their levels of suppression during the sad film clip or the interpersonal stress task. Further, the use of emotional suppression did not significantly predict change in negative affect in response to the sad film clip (β = -1.21, p =.48) and the interpersonal stress task (β = .62, p = .74). Further, cultural background did not moderate the relationship between suppression and distress following the two mood induction tasks.
• Conclusion:  While our mood induction effects were significant, the results failed to show the expected associations between emotion regulation and distress, as well as the hypothesized cultural differences. One explanation for these null findings is our small sample size, as well as the use of a single item to measure emotional suppression. Future works would do well to re-examine these associations in larger sample size and via alternate methods.