Psychological adjustment following diagnosis and treatment of cancer: an examination of the moderating role of positive and negative emotional expressivity.
In support of cognitive processing models, emotional expression appears to reduce associations between intrusions and psychological distress. Past research has focused primarily on the role of the expression of negative emotion, or emotion in general, in cognitive processing and adjustment. In the present study, we examined the role of both positive and negative emotional expressivity on relations between intrusions and both distress and avoidance among 93 individuals diagnosed with and treated for cancer. We hypothesized stronger negative associations between intrusive thoughts and both distress and avoidance for those individuals lower in positive or negative expressivity. Results generally supported hypotheses with regard to relations of intrusions and distress in association with positive expressivity. Negative expressivity, however, moderated relations between intrusions and distress, but not intrusions and avoidance. These findings underscore the importance of examining the impact of individual differences in negative, as well as positive, emotional expression on cognitive processing and psychological adjustment.
Quartana
Phillip J
PJ
Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA. phillip.quartana@rfums.org
Laubmeier
Kimberly K
KK
Zakowski
Sandra G
SG
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D003469:Culture; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012803:Sick Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking