Situational controllability moderates the link between cognitive reappraisal, but not problem solving, and momentary distress.

Emotion regulation strategies can be adaptive or maladaptive in various contexts. Specifically, cognitive reappraisal and problem solving have shown differential outcomes depending on controllability. In a 21-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study, 158 participants reported situational characteristics, emotion regulation strategy use, and momentary distress. Results showed that state level controllability was negatively associated with momentary distress when controlling for gender, age, race, and ethnicity. For both trait and state level controllability, in controllable situations, reappraisal was positively associated with distress, while in uncontrollable situations, reappraisal was negatively associated with distress. In both trait and state controllable and uncontrollable contexts, problem solving was positively associated with distress. We discussed potential reasons for these findings and the importance of putting emotion regulation in context.