Ansiedade, depressão e o papel da granularidade na regulação emocional

Abstract

Emotional granularity, defined as the ability to differentiate and label affective experiences in a specific way, has been associated with protection against the development of psychopathology. In the university context, characterized by high demands and pressure for performance, deficits in the discrimination and regulation of negative emotions can intensify symptoms of anxiety and depression. This dissertation investigated the relationships between probable signs of anxiety and depression, negative emotional granularity, and the use of emotional regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression) in Brazilian university students. The study included 174 undergraduate and graduate students (M = 23.5 years), who responded online to the HADS, ERQ, DERS, and PANAS instruments. Analyses involved descriptive statistics, mean comparison tests, hierarchical linear regressions, and Multiple Correspondence Analysis. The results indicated high prevalences of probable signs of anxiety (43.6%) and depression (18.9%), as well as significant differences in the dimensions of the DERS, highlighting greater deficits in knowledge, clarity, and access to regulatory strategies among participants with clinical symptomatology. No differences were observed in the frequency of use of reappraisal and suppression strategies, suggesting that the impairment is related to the effectiveness and flexibility of emotional regulation, and not to its attempt. Anxiety proved to be the main predictor of overall negative affect. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis identified distinct affective profiles, characterized by anxious exhaustion and defensive hostility. It is concluded that clinical symptomatology compromises the success of the regulatory process, mediated by low emotional granularity, indicating that interventions should prioritize increasing emotional differentiation and strategic flexibility.