Emotional Regulation, Level of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Alcohol Abusers and Non-Abusers

Abstract

The study was to examine the levels of depression anxiety and stress, as well as emotion regulation strategies among alcohol abusers and non-abusers. One hundred and fifty alcohol abusers who were admitted in department of psychiatry ward in hospital and one hundred and fifty normal people who were in general population were enrolled in the study. Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-42) and emotional regulation questionnaires were used to assesses the depression, anxiety and stress reaction and emotional regulation of alcohol abusers and non-abusers. Alcohol abusers had higher level of depression, anxiety and stress reaction, as well as lower level of cognitive reappraisal and higher level of suppression compared with normal people. Cognitive reappraisal and suppression had significantly negative correlation with depression, anxiety and stress reaction in healthy people while they had no significantly correlation with depression, anxiety and stress reaction in abuser group. Further, both cognitive reappraisal and suppression significantly predicated depression, anxiety and stress reaction in healthy people while they did not predicate depression, anxiety and stress in alcohol abusers. Alcohol abusers had obvious depression, anxiety and stress reaction, as well as inappropriate copying strategies. Both cognitive reappraisal and suppression could predicate negative emotion and stress reaction in normal population but the emotional regulation failed to predicate negative emotion and stress reaction in alcohol abusers.