Emotion regulation and subjective wellbeing among Turkish population: the mediating role of COVID-19 fear

Abstract

We examined fear of COVID-19 as a mediator of the relationship between emotion regulation (suppression, reappraisal) and subjective wellbeing. In this cross-sectional study, 1,014 Turkish individuals completed assessments of positive affect, negative affect, satisfaction with life, emotion regulation (suppression, reappraisal), and fear of COVID-19. Network analysis revealed that all variables were associated with each other. Structural equation modelling indicated that greater suppression was associated with greater fear of COVID-19 and less subjective wellbeing. Greater reappraisal was associated with less fear of COVID-19 and greater subjective wellbeing. In addition greater suppression was associated with less subjective well-being and greater reappraisal was associated with greater subjective well-being. Mediation analyses demonstrated that fear of COVID-19 partially mediated the relationship between suppression, reappraisal and subjective wellbeing. Findings expand our understanding of the link between emotion regulation and subjective wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.