University makes me angry: investigating stimulus-response (S-R) and cognitive-mediation (C-M) emotion beliefs in undergraduate students

Turner, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1975-5561, Boatwright, Daniel, Evans, Andrew, Garip, Gulcan, Chandler, Charlotte, Chadha, Nanaki and Wood, Andrew (2024) University makes me angry: investigating stimulus-response (S-R) and cognitive-mediation (C-M) emotion beliefs in undergraduate students. PLoS One, 19 (2). e0294777. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Emotion regulation through cognitive reappraisal is well-studied, but less so are the predispositional and superordinate beliefs that influence reappraisal. Recently, researchers developed the cognitive mediation beliefs questionnaire (CMBQ), which measures two emotion beliefs, namely stimulus-response (S-R) generation beliefs and cognitive mediation (C-M) change beliefs. In working populations S-R generation beliefs are inversely related to cognitive reappraisal tendencies and positive mental health, and positively related to emotion reactivity. C-M change beliefs are positively related to cognitive reappraisal tendencies, and inversely related to emotion reactivity and positive mental health. As yet, there is no evidence for the validity of the CMBQ within student samples, or for the associations between its subscales and cognitive reappraisal, emotion reactivity, and positive mental health. Therefore, in the present study the CMBQ is tested for factorial, convergent (associations with cognitive reappraisal), and concurrent (associations with emotion reactivity and positive mental health) validity in a cohort of 621 undergraduate students in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Results indicate support for the factorial and convergent validity of the CMBQ, with mixed evidence for the concurrent validity of the CMBQ. A CM-SR discrepancy score appeared to provide a promising variable when associated with emotion reactivity and positive mental health. The findings are discussed in terms of practical and research implications of the findings.