Age and gender differences in affect regulation Age and gender differences in affect regulation strategies - representative sample of Croatiastrategies - representative sample of Croatia

Ljiljana Kaliterna LipovčanLjiljana Kaliterna LipovčanAA, Zvjezdana Prizmic Larsen, Zvjezdana Prizmic LarsenBB

& Renata Franc& Renata FrancAA

A A Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, CroatiaInstitute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, CroatiaBB Washington University, St. Louis, USA Washington University, St. Louis, USA

AIMSAIMS

To exploreTo explore the affect regulation strategies used in the affect regulation strategies used in regulating the negative feelings in everyday life on regulating the negative feelings in everyday life on the large, representative sample of Croatia citizensthe large, representative sample of Croatia citizens

►► general use and distribution of using different general use and distribution of using different regulation strategies in everyday life regulation strategies in everyday life ► ► gender and age differences in the average usegender and age differences in the average use of regulation strategies of regulation strategies

Population: 4.494.000Land (km2): 89.810Islands: 1.185

the first fountain pen!

the first parachute byFaust Vrančicć (1551-1617)

The first torpedo was manufactured in Rijeka and lounched atDecember 20, 1886

Torpedo factory, Rijeka 1905.

Italian - Cravatta, Spanish - Corbata,

Portugese - Gravata, Irish - Carabhat, English - Cravat,

Swedish - Kravatt, Finnish - Kravatti, Flemish - Krawaat

Polish - Krawat, Ukrainian - Kravatka

Cravate (1635)

Dalmatian dog

Croatia – Brasil 0:1Croatia - Japan 0:0

Croatia - Australia 2:2

SUBJECTSSUBJECTS

Demographic characteristics of the representative sample of Croatian citizens (N=900)

Age: Mean Median 42 Range 18-92 years

Age groups: frequency (%) Young (18-29) 224 (24.9) Middle (30-44) 271 (30.1) Aged (45-59) 232 (25.8) Old age (60 +) 164 (18.2)

Gender: Women 486 (54%) Men 414 (46%)

MEASURES & PROCEDURE

► Measure of Affect Regulation Styles, MARS (Larsen & Prizmic 2004) 38 specific behaviours that people use to regulate negative feelings rated on the scale 1 = never; 7 = always 7 factors (mood regulation strategies)

► In-person interviews in respondent’s home, anonymous, respond rate 77%

Active distractiongoing out with friends, doing some fun, laughin

Cognitive engagementthinking about positive things, things that are

going well in life, putting things in perspective

Behavioral engagementmaking plans how to avoid such problems in

future, taking action to solve the problem

Mood regulation strategies

Venting and expressing affect letting feelings out, expressing them, talking to someone about their feelings

Passive distraction and acceptancepraying, accepting it as fate, drinking, eating

Rumination and withdrawtrying to understand own feelings, thinkingabout own feelings, writing about own feelings

Waitingdoing nothing, letting things wait, daydreaming

Mood regulation strategies

RESULTSRESULTS

1. 1. Average ratings of affect regulation strategiesAverage ratings of affect regulation strategies a) Average ratings of strategies in whole samplea) Average ratings of strategies in whole sample

Affect regulation strategies

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

AD = active dis.CE = cognitive eng.BE = behavioral eng.V = venting/expres.PD= passive dis./accept.RW = ruminat./withdrawWR = waiting

F = 233.1, p<.001

AD,CE,BE > others strat.

Gender differencesGender differences

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

AD = active dis.CE = cognitive eng.BE = behavioral eng.V = venting/expres.PD= passive dis./accept.RW = ruminat./withdrawWR = waiting

F=131.8, p<.001 AD,CE,BE > others strat.

F=116.4, p<.001 AD,CE,BE,V > others strat.

Main effect for genderMain effect for gender F=9.85, p<.001 F=9.85, p<.001 Women > MenWomen > Men

Venting and expressing affect Venting and expressing affect Rumination and withdraw Rumination and withdraw Passive distraction and acceptance Passive distraction and acceptance

Average ratings of strategies by age groupsAverage ratings of strategies by age groups

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

AD = active dis. CE = cognitive eng. BE = behavioral eng. V =vent./expres. PD= passive dis./accept. RW = ruminat./withdr. WR=waiting

Young 18-29 (p<.001) Middle 30-44 (p<.001)

Aged 45-59 (p<.001) Old 60+ (p<.001)

WRRWPDVBECEAD

Rat

ings

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

WRVBECEAD

Rat

ings

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

Young

Middle

Aged

Old

Main effect for age groups F=37.47, p<.001Main effect for age groups F=37.47, p<.001

Active distractionActive distraction

Venting and expressing affectVenting and expressing affect

Cognitive engagementCognitive engagement Behavioral engagementBehavioral engagement

WaitingWaiting

Young vs. others:

Old vs. othersYoung & Old vs. others

Interaction effect gender x age for Venting and expressing affectF=10.32, p<.001

Age groups

Old ageAgedMiddleYoung

Freq

uenc

y 6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

Gender

Male

Female

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

►► TThere are gender and age differences in usinghere are gender and age differences in using regulation strategies to regulate negative feelings regulation strategies to regulate negative feelings in everyday life in everyday life

►► Predictions were confirmed:Predictions were confirmed:- - women used more rumination strategies than menwomen used more rumination strategies than men- young and old people differed the most in Active distraction,- young and old people differed the most in Active distraction,

Cognitive and Behavioral engagement, Venting and expressingCognitive and Behavioral engagement, Venting and expressing affect but not in Waitingaffect but not in Waiting

Future?

• comparisons with other culturescomparisons with other cultures

• is there the best mood regulation is there the best mood regulation strategy to be used?strategy to be used?