Love, Resilience, and the Past: The Role of Positive Emotion Regulation in Overcoming Childhood Maltreatment and Building Strong Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Experiences of childhood maltreatment (CM) are associated with relationship and sexual difficulties in adulthood (Vaillancourt-Morel, et al., 2024). Research has shown that these issues are partially explained by difficulties regulating negative emotions (DiLillo et al., 2009). However, the effect CM has on the regulation of positive emotions has received considerably less attention. In this thesis I examined how CM is related to fear of positive and negative emotional states (Studies 1-3), using online-self report questionnaires, I tested if this anxiety mediates the association between CM and difficulties in relationships (Studies 2 & 3), and finally, I examined how CM is related to an individuals’ ability to regulate their positive and negative emotions in response to images that evoke positive and negative emotions. My results consistently showed that CM is related to fear of positive and negative emotional states (Studies 1-3). Consistently I found an association between the intensity of CM experienced and decreased satisfaction with communication in adult long-term relationships (Studies 2 & 3). This association was mediated by fear of emotions (Study 2), with Study 3 showing unique effects for both fear of positive and negative emotions. Finally, my results showed that CM was associated with difficulty enhancing positive emotions and improved performance when asked to decrease positive emotions (Study 3). These results provide evidence that CM affects individuals’ ability to tolerate and regulate their positive emotions. Furthermore, my results suggest that difficulties with positive emotions play a role in long-term relationship difficulties reported by survivors of CM. The present research suggests that clinicians should focus on improving tolerance for positive emotions and teaching tools for capitalizing on positive experiences when working with survivors of CM.