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Mindfulness and Defense Mechanisms as Explicit and Implicit Emotion Regulation Strategies against Psychological Distress during Massive Catastrophic Events

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  • Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
    Department of History, Culture and Society, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Graziella Orrù

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Angelo Gemignani

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Rebecca Ciacchini

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Mario Miniati

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Ciro Conversano

    (Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, Critical and Care Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

Emotion regulation is an important aspect of psychological functioning that influences subjective experience and moderates emotional responses throughout the lifetime. Adaptive responses to stressful life events depend on the positive interaction between explicit and implicit emotion regulation strategies, such as mindfulness and defense mechanisms. This study demonstrates how these emotion regulation strategies predict psychological health during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. A convenience sample of 6385 subjects, recruited via snowball sampling on various social media platforms, responded to an online survey assessing psychological reaction to social restrictions imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Italy. Psychological distress, post-traumatic stress symptoms, mindfulness, and defense mechanisms were assessed using SCL-90, IES-R, MAAS, and DMRS-30-SR, respectively. Higher mindfulness was significantly associated with higher overall defensive maturity and a greater use of high-adaptive defenses ( p < 0.0001). Both mindfulness and defense mechanisms acted as good predictors of psychological health (R 2 = 0.541) and posttraumatic symptoms (R 2 = 0.332), confirming the role of emotion regulation in protecting against maladaptive responses to stressful situations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Graziella Orrù & Angelo Gemignani & Rebecca Ciacchini & Mario Miniati & Ciro Conversano, 2022. "Mindfulness and Defense Mechanisms as Explicit and Implicit Emotion Regulation Strategies against Psychological Distress during Massive Catastrophic Events," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12690-:d:933198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiara Lucifora & Gabriella Martino & Anna Curcuruto & Mohammad Ali Salehinejad & Carmelo Mario Vicario, 2021. "How Self-Control Predicts Moral Decision Making: An Exploratory Study on Healthy Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-9, April.
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    3. Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Gianni Nepa & Tracy A. Prout & Fabrizio Albertini & Stefano Marcelli & Graziella Orrù & Ciro Conversano, 2021. "Stress, Burnout, and Resilience among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Emergency: The Role of Defense Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
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    5. Graziella Orrù & Francesca Marzetti & Ciro Conversano & Guido Vagheggini & Mario Miccoli & Rebecca Ciacchini & Eugenia Panait & Angelo Gemignani, 2021. "Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Gabriella Martino & Federica Bellone & Carmelo M. Vicario & Agostino Gaudio & Andrea Caputo & Francesco Corica & Giovanni Squadrito & Peter Schwarz & Nunziata Morabito & Antonino Catalano, 2021. "Anxiety Levels Predict Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women Undergoing Oral Bisphosphonates: A Two-Year Follow-Up," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Senlin Zhou & Yunpeng Wu & Xizheng Xu, 2023. "Linking Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression to Mindfulness: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, January.

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