Relationship context and emotion regulation across the life span

Abstract

A growing body of literature points to the important role that context plays in emotion regulation. One dimension of context that has significance for emotion regulation is the nature of the relationship between interactive partners. This review provides an organized account of existing empirical evidence assessing emotion regulation within close relationships across the life span. Specifically, the reviewed research includes studies examining parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships in relation to emotion regulation. The review highlights evidence concerning how relationship processes influence emotion regulation. Based on the current state of the literature, future directions for research in this area are recommended. This review seeks to advance a more nuanced approach to the study of the social processes associated with emotion regulation. An argument is made for how building upon research concerning the relationship context as a basis for emotion regulation can further elucidate theorizing on the determinants of emotion regulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).