Reappraisal—but not Suppression—Tendencies Determine Negativity Bias After Laboratory and Real‑World Stress Exposure

Authors

Candace M. Raio, University Grossman School of Medicine, New York
Nicholas R. Harp, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Catherine C. Brown, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Maital Neta, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Citation

Affective Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-021-00059-5

Comments

PMCID: PMC8531907

Received: 12 December 2020 / Accepted: 5 July 2021 © The Author(s) 2021

Abstract

Higher reactivity to stress exposure is associated with an increased tendency to appraise ambiguous stimuli as negative. However, it remains unknown whether tendencies to use emotion regulation strategies—such as cognitive reappraisal, which involves altering the meaning or relevance of affective stimuli—can shape individual differences regarding how stress affects perceptions of ambiguity. Here, we examined whether increased reappraisal use is one factor that can determine whether stress exposure induces increased negativity bias. In Study 1, healthy participants (n = 43) rated the valence of emotionally ambiguous (surprised) faces before and after an acute stress or control manipulation and reported reappraisal habits. Increased negativity ratings were milder for stressed individuals that reported more habitual reappraisal use. In Study 2 (n = 97), we extended this investigation to real-world perceived stress before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that reappraisal tendency moderates the relationship between perceived stress and increased negativity bias. Collectively, these findings suggest that the propensity to reappraise determines negativity bias when evaluating ambiguity under stress.