Everything under control? Daily dynamics of self-control and emotion regulation

Abstract

As emotions may hinder goal pursuit, regulating them is important. Although the relationship between self-control and emotion regulation has mainly been investigated on a dispositional level, the engagement in self-control and emotion regulation fluctuates across situations. Research on how and to what extent self-control and emotion regulation impact one another within individuals over time is scarce. In the present study, we investigated the within-person reciprocal relationships between momentary self-control and the emotion regulation strategies reappraisal and suppression. Ecological momentary assessment was employed to collect diary data five times a day over four days using repeated, short measures of emotions, self-control, reappraisal, and suppression. Using Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling (DSEM) of data from 1874 assessments provided by 111 participants, results showed that the relationship between self-control and the emotion regulation strategies reappraisal and suppression is reciprocal within persons over time. Momentary suppression related to lower levels of momentary self-control later on, and self-control, in turn, was positively associated with the employment of subsequent reappraisal. Findings are discussed in light of the importance of self-control in dealing with emotions that impede goal pursuit, and the contextual importance of this relationship. Overall, this study adds to the question how emotion regulation and self-control are intertwined on a within-person level and provides insight into how people could deal with their emotional experiences to achieve their long-term goals.