When context matters: Negative emotions predict psychological health and adjustment

Healthy Communities Research Institute, Department of Psychological Sciences
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  3. When context matters: Negative emotions predict psychological health and adjustment
Author(s)
Abstract
Functional theories of emotion argue for the adaptive function of negative emotions in response to specific contextual or environmental demands. However, data supporting these theories in community samples is limited and much research has suggested the opposite: negative emotions predict poor adjustment. To begin to address this discrepancy, we tested the functional association between negative emotion and psychological health and adjustment across three diverse samples: adults in intimate-partnerships, patients with chronic illness, and first-year college students. In each study we employed lab-based methods to elicit and index emotion as a multi-dimensional response system and considered contextual factors and the theorized or demonstrated function of negative emotions in that context and in relation to specific outcomes. Data analysis revealed that contextually sensitive negative emotion was adaptive, and associated with better relationship adjustment and related behaviors (Study 1), higher treatment adherence (Study 2), and adaptive responses to peer rejection (Study 3). Across samples, circumstances, and outcomes, negative emotions were positively associated with psychological health and adjustment.
Format
Article
Identifier(s)
10.1007/s11031-016-9553-y
Publication Date
2016-08
Publication Title
Motivation and Emotion
Publisher
Springer Nature
Volume
40
Issue
4
First Page
602
Last Page
624
Keywords
Subject
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Community
Healthy Communities Research Institute
Department of Psychological Sciences
Permalinkhttps://oaks.kent.edu/hcri/when-context-matters-negative-emotions-predict-psychological-health-and-adjustment
Coifman, K., Flynn, J., & Pinto, L. (2016). When context matters: Negative emotions predict psychological health and adjustment (1–). Motivation and Emotion. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9553-y
Coifman, Karin, Jessica Flynn, and Lavinia Pinto. 2016. “When Context Matters: Negative Emotions Predict Psychological Health and Adjustment”. Motivation and Emotion. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9553-y.
Coifman, Karin, et al. When Context Matters: Negative Emotions Predict Psychological Health and Adjustment. Motivation and Emotion, Aug. 2016, https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9553-y.