Psychometrically Defined Aversive Reactivity Predicts Mood Symptoms and Emotion Regulation Beyond Neuroticism

Many psychiatric conditions demonstrate overlapping psychological mechanisms warranting clinical intervention. Aversive reactivity (appraisals of unpleasant emotional states as harmful) is one such proposed mechanism by which neuroticism leads to maladaptive emotion regulation and mental illness. Although some constructs have been directly connected to aversive reactivity (e.g., distress tolerance), associations with other plausibly related constructs (e.g., mindful acceptance) have not been evaluated, nor does a measure of it yet exist. Undergraduates completed self-report questionnaires of mood symptoms, emotion regulation, neuroticism, and constructs related to aversive reactivity. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated two factors reflecting aversive reactivity and emotional awareness. In hierarchical regressions, aversive reactivity predicted more variance than neuroticism in mood symptoms and emotion regulation. Overall, results support that aversive reactivity is important for behavioural and symptom outcomes. Due to its role as a transdiagnostic mechanism, aversive reactivity should be prioritized in further research and considered as a treatment target.