Explicating The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in Risky Behaviors
Explicating The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in Risky Behaviors
Explicating The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in Risky Behaviors
Author Manuscript
Curr Opin Psychol. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 June 01.
Abstract
Extant literature provides support for emotion dysregulation as a transdiagnostic construct with
relevance to the pathogenesis and treatment of numerous psychiatric difficulties and maladaptive
behaviors, including risky, self-destructive, and health-compromising behaviors (e.g., substance
use, risky sexual behavior). The aim of the present review is to synthesize theory and empirical
research on the relationship between emotion dysregulation and risky behaviors. In addition, we
highlight cutting-edge approaches for investigating the emotion dysregulation-risky behavior,
including examination of the role of positive emotional experiences and inclusion of contextdependent and physiological assessments. Finally, we note the relevance of the emotion
dysregulation-risky behavior relation to intervention efforts aimed at reducing risky behaviors.
Keywords
emotion dysregulation; risky behaviors; difficulties regulating positive emotions; contextdependent assessment; physiological assessment
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Introduction
NIH-PA Author Manuscript
Over the past decade, researchers have become increasingly interested in identifying factors
that underlie or maintain risky behaviors (i.e., any behavior that puts one at risk for a
negative outcome, be it physical, emotional, social, or financial), with a particular focus on
such behaviors that heighten risk for negative health or safety outcomes, such as substance
use, risky sexual behavior, deliberate self-harm, aggressive behavior, and disordered eating.
These risky, self-destructive, and health-compromising behaviors have been linked to a wide
range of deleterious societal costs, including disease, injury, and healthcare usage; crime and
criminal justice system costs; educational attainment; and worker productivity [1,2].
A growing body of research suggests that risky behaviors may be driven by deficits in
emotion regulation. Emotion regulation is a foundational skill considered to be integral to
normative development and adaptive functioning across multiple domains [3,4].
Developmental researchers have defined emotion regulation as the intrinsic and extrinsic
processes involved in monitoring, evaluating, and modulating emotional reactions to
accomplish one's goals [5]. Drawing upon this definition, KL Gratz and L Roemer [6]
proposed an integrative conceptualization of emotion regulation in adulthood as a
multidimensional construct involving the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of
emotions; ability to control impulsive behaviors and engage in goal-directed behaviors when
experiencing negative emotions; and flexible use of situationally-appropriate strategies to
modulate the intensity and duration of emotional responses, rather than to eliminate
emotions entirely. Conversely, deficits in any of these areas are considered indicative of
emotion dysregulation. A substantial body of research provides support for the role of
emotion dysregulation in various forms of psychopathology and maladaptive behaviors [7],
including behaviors that were traditionally thought to be driven primarily by impulsivity,
disinhibition, or risk-taking propensity, such as risky sexual behavior [8,9].
The aim of the present review is to synthesize research on the relationship between emotion
dysregulation and risky behaviors to inform future research and clinical practice in this area.
First, we provide a theoretical account relating emotion dysregulation to risky behaviors. We
then describe empirical support for the role of emotion dysregulation in risky behaviors,
with an emphasis on novel approaches to the study of the emotion dysregulation-risky
behavior relation. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these findings to intervention efforts
aimed at reducing risky behaviors.
Theory Linking Emotion Dysregulation and Risky Behaviors
Extant research suggests that risky behaviors are most likely to occur in the context of
intense emotion states [10,11], suggesting that engagement in risky behaviors is contextdependent. A growing body of literature indicates that heightened emotion dysregulation
may increase the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors in the presence of intense
emotions. For example, it has been theorized that individuals who exhibit greater emotion
dysregulation may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors in an attempt to alleviate or
distract themselves from emotional states perceived as aversive [12]. Alternatively, the
short-term pleasure that may be associated with certain risky behaviors may function to
counter or distract from unpleasant emotional states that an individual is unwilling to
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approach, tolerate, or accept. Notably, however, although risky behaviors may result in an
immediate (short-term) reduction in emotional distress and/or an increase in pleasurable
emotion states, they are likely to have paradoxical consequences in the long-term. For
example, studies show that engagement in emotionally-avoidant regulation strategies can
result in the exacerbation of distress [13]. Moreover, the negative consequences associated
with risky behaviors may contribute to the experience of more negative emotions (e.g., guilt,
shame) that further drive emotionally-avoidant regulation strategies. Further, because risky
behaviors provide immediate reinforcement, individuals may be more likely to use these
behaviors to escape emotional distress in the future, reducing experiences in which adaptive
modulation of emotions is reinforced [14].
It is also possible that heightened levels of emotion dysregulation may reduce one's capacity
to control risky behaviors in the context of urges or cues (e.g., drugs, food) for such
behaviors. For example, according to the ego-depletion model [15], the capacity for selfregulation is a limited resource. Thus, situations that require self-regulation will deplete this
resource, temporarily limiting one's capacity in this regard [15,16]. Low emotional clarity or
the nonacceptance of emotions (i.e., secondary emotional responding) may increase
emotional intensity and/or reactivity, depleting self-regulation resources. These forms of
emotion dysregulation may also increase the likelihood that an individual attempts to avoid
their emotions, an emotion regulation strategy that requires effort and may further deplete
self- regulation resources [16]. As a result, an individual may have fewer self-regulation
resources available to adequately control impulses to engage in rash or risky behaviors when
faced with cues for these behaviors.
Empirical Investigations of Emotion Dysregulation and Risky Behaviors
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Notably, however, a dearth of research has explicated the role of other dimensions of
positive emotion dysregulation outside of urgency in risky behaviors. In one such study, KL
Dixon-Gordon, et al. [38**] utilized ecological momentary assessment to identify the roles
of negative and positive emotion differentiation (i.e., the ability to distinguish between
distinct emotions of similar valence) in the relation between borderline personality
pathology and urges for risky behaviors. Participants high and low in borderline personality
pathology responded to questions regarding emotions and impulses to engage in risky
behaviors eight times over one day using handheld computers. The relationship between
borderline personality pathology group (high versus low) and urges for risky behaviors was
found to increase in magnitude as positive (but not negative) emotion differentiation moved
from high to low. These findings suggest that difficulties distinguishing among positive
emotions may confer risk for risky behaviors among individuals high in borderline
personality pathology.
Although recent advances have further elucidated the role of positive emotion dysregulation
in risky behaviors, several important questions remain. Likely contributing to the relative
lack of research in this area has been the absence of a comprehensive measure assessing
positive emotion dysregulation. To address this limitation, NH Weiss, et al. [39*] recently
developed and validated a measure of positive emotion dysregulation (the Difficulties in
Emotion Regulation Scale Positive [DERS-Positive]). Results of this study revealed the
presence of three dimensions of positive emotion dysregulation, including (1) nonacceptance
of positive emotions, (2) difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when experiencing
positive emotions, and (3) difficulties controlling behaviors when experiencing positive
emotions. Consistent with the multidimensional conceptualization of emotion dysregulation
on which this measure is based [6], the DERS-Positive subscales evidenced differential
associations with relevant emotional and behavioral constructs. These findings highlight the
importance of assessing responses to positive emotions beyond simply the ability to inhibit
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risky behaviors in their presence. Given that difficulties regulating positive emotions are
often overlooked in clinical settings, it is critical that future research explicate the role of
these additional dimensions of positive emotion dysregulation in risky behaviors.
Finally, it warrants mention that research on positive emotion dysregulation has focused
almost exclusively on heightened positive emotion states, despite theoretical evidence to
suggest that emotion dysregulation may also occur in response to low positive emotion
states. Individuals who report low levels of positive affect have been found to exhibit greater
difficulties with goal-directed behavior (40). Further, nonacceptance of low levels of
positive affect has been found to result in paradoxical effects, such that telling individuals to
increase their levels of positive affect results in reductions in positive affect (41,42). Finally,
difficulties identifying (43), describing (44), and modulating (45) both low and high positive
emotion states have been reported in the literature. Importantly, initial evidence suggests
that emotion dysregulation stemming from low levels of positive affect may also contribute
to risky behaviors. For example, the four-function model (FFM) of self-harm purports that
self-harm may function to generate positive emotion states or stimulation (46). Likewise,
positive reinforcement motives for alcohol use have been described by the motivational
model of alcohol use (47). Consistent with this theory, research provides support for the
positive emotion-regulating function of risky behaviors, such that low levels of positive
affect have been cited as an antecedent to risky behaviors (48,49), and engagement in risky
behaviors has been found to result in an increase in positive affect (48-50). This
aforementioned literature highlights the need for future research on the regulation of both
low and high intensity positive affective states. For example, empirical literature has
explored positive emotion intensity as an antecedent and consequence of risky behaviors;
however, the role of individual's responses to diminished positive affective states in risky
behaviors is unclear. Further, in a recent review, Bentley, Nock, and Barlow (51) suggested
the need for laboratory-based and experience sampling methodologies to determine whether
positive and negative reinforcement processes underlying risky behaviors are distinct.
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neutral) mood induction. Similarly, higher positive urgency was associated with greater
alcohol consumption only after a positive mood induction. In a second study, JM Lavender,
et al. (unpublished) assessed the relation between state levels of emotion dysregulation
(assessed using the State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) following a laboratory
stressor and retrospective reports of alcohol and drug problems in a sample of community
women. State emotion dysregulation (overall and many of the specific dimensions) was
found to be significantly positively associated with alcohol and drug problems. Finally,
empirical evidence suggests that negative affect and trauma cue exposures are associated
with an increase in risky behavior-related outcomes in the laboratory (e.g., attentional bias to
drug cues and cravings) [57-59]. Taken together, these findings suggest that levels of
emotion dysregulation and risky behaviors following emotionally-evocative tasks are
important correlates of self-reported risky behaviors and emotion dysregulation,
respectively. Notably, however, we are not aware of any investigations that have utilized
state-dependent measures of both emotion dysregulation and risky behaviors to assess their
relation to one another. Elucidating the specific external and internal states related to risktaking is a critical step in this body of research, as such findings might highlight the utility
of targeted interventions focused on teaching strategies for reducing risky behaviors in
particular contexts.
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systems and the HPA axis can have antagonistic, synergistic, or independent effects [70,71],
it is essential that research assess the role of multiple physiological indices of emotion
dysregulation (and their interactions) in risky behaviors. Indeed, recent research suggests
that concurrently low or high autonomic nervous system and HPA axis activation is
associated with the highest levels of involvement in risky behaviors [72*,73]. It may be
particularly important to explicate the role of physiological markers of emotion
dysregulation in response to specific emotions (versus aggregating negatively and positively
valenced emotions), as autonomic nervous system and HPA axis reactivity have been shown
to be uniquely associated with anger and sadness, respectively [74]. Second, much of the
research to date has focused on resting and/or peak levels of emotional responding and
reactivity in risky behaviors; however, AK Santucci, et al. [75*] found that longer duration
of autonomic nervous system activation following a frustrating task, but not autonomic
nervous system reactivity, was associated with emotion dysregulation. This finding suggests
that (a) the inability to down-regulate autonomic nervous system activity may be a better
marker of emotion dysregulation than simply the level of autonomic arousal, and (b) the
need for investigations of the role of autonomic nervous system recovery in risky behaviors.
Finally, as previously noted, it will be important for future research to identify the contextdependent role of physiological processes related to emotion dysregulation and their relation
to risky behaviors. Indeed, initial evidence suggests that autonomic nervous system
reactivity differs as a function of the stressor (cognitive versus interpersonal) [76*].
Implications for Treatment
While more nuanced investigations of the emotion dysregulation-risky behavior relation are
needed, including those that elucidate the role of positive emotional experiences and include
context-dependent and physiological assessments of emotion dysregulation and risky
behaviors, existing research highlights the potential utility of targeting emotion
dysregulation in treatments aimed at reducing risky behaviors. Consistent with the
aforementioned basic research findings, results of clinical outcome studies suggest that
treatments targeting emotion dysregulation result in reductions in risky behaviors. For
instance, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) [77] incorporates a wide range of skills (e.g.,
emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness) that target emotion dysregulation and
has been shown to result in reductions in risky behaviors, including deliberate self-harm
[78], disordered eating [79], and substance use [80]. Likewise, KL Gratz and MT Tull [81]
have found that a brief, adjunctive emotion regulation group therapy (ERGT) for women
with borderline personality disorder can reduce deliberate self-harm, as well as various
forms of risky behaviors (e.g., binge eating, substance use, risky sex), by focusing
specifically on improving emotion regulation [82]. Future research would benefit from
exploring the effect of treatments targeting emotion dysregulation, such as DBT and ERGT,
in reducing risky behaviors among more diverse populations.
Conclusions
Theoretical and empirical literature provide growing support for the underlying role of
emotion dysregulation in a wide range of risky behaviors. While advancing our
understanding of the emotion dysregulation-risky behavior relation, findings from extant
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investigations have largely been limited through the use of correlational designs and selfreport data to identify the role of difficulties regulating negative emotions in risky behaviors.
However, emerging research has begun to address these limitations. First, while research on
the regulation of emotions has overwhelmingly focused on negative emotional experiences,
recent investigations have begun to provide support for the role of specific domains of
difficulties regulating positive emotions (i.e., positive urgency and emotion differentiation)
in risky behaviors, suggesting the utility of targeting difficulties regulating positive emotions
in interventions aimed at reducing risky behaviors. Second, research to date has generally
assessed dispositional tendencies towards emotion dysregulation and retrospective reports of
risky behaviors; however, there is evidence for the context-dependent nature of both
emotion dysregulation and risky behaviors. Finally, growing research highlights the role of
physiological processes underlying the ability to regulate emotions, such as HRV and
cortisol reactivity, in risky behaviors. These advancements can improve our understanding
of the ways in which emotion dysregulation may increase motivations to engage in risky
behaviors, as well as inform the development and refinement of more efficacious
interventions for reducing risky behaviors.
Acknowledgments
The research described here was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institutes of Health
(T32DA019426).
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residential treatment for alcohol dependence. Participants were inpatients with an alcohol use
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Vagal tone was assessed pre-, during-, and post-emotional challenge. Mother's rated children's
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Highlights