Positive reappraisal and refocus on planning as cognitive emotion-regulation correlates of psychological resilience: a cross-sectional observational study.

BACKGROUND

Cognitive emotion regulation may play an important role in psychological resilience; however, its association with resilience may be influenced by various factors, including cognitive ability and psychiatric symptoms. We examined whether specific cognitive emotion-regulation strategies remained associated with resilience after accounting for these factors.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of 149 healthy young adults. Psychological resilience and cognitive emotion-regulation strategies were assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Partial correlation analyses were performed after adjusting for demographic characteristics; full-scale intelligence quotient; and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In the multiple regression model, all nine CERQ subscales were entered simultaneously with these covariates, and a stepwise model was used for the exploratory analysis.

RESULTS

After full adjustment, the five adaptive strategies and rumination were positively associated with resilience and remained significant after Holm correction, whereas self-blame showed only a nominal association that did not survive the correction. Positive reappraisal (r=0.691) and refocus on planning (r=0.655) showed the strongest associations. In the regression model, only positive reappraisal (β=0.348, p<0.001) and refocus on planning (β=0.289, p<0.001) were independently associated with higher resilience (adjusted R²=0.627), and the exploratory stepwise model retained both strategies.

CONCLUSION

Positive reappraisal and refocus on planning showed robust associations with psychological resilience after adjusting for demographic, cognitive, and psychological factors. Adaptive reinterpretation of stressful experiences and goal-directed planning may represent particularly relevant cognitive emotion-regulation correlates of psychological resilience.