Protestant and Buddhist differences in noninfluence strategies of emotion regulation and their links to depressive symptoms.

The present research proposes that Buddhist teachings involve a noninfluence emotion regulation strategy, an emotion regulation strategy that consists of individuals not influencing their emotions in any way, more so than do Protestant teachings. We examined religious teachings surrounding the strategy, practitioners' use of the strategy, and its links with depression. Further, the nature of this noninfluence strategy was explored. Across 3 studies that used student, community, and online samples, results showed that in fact Buddhist practitioners were more likely than were Protestant practitioners to report that their religion teaches them to use noninfluence strategies of emotion regulation, and that they use noninfluence strategies of emotion regulation. Moreover, the use of noninfluence emotion regulation strategies was predictive of lower depressive symptoms across both religions (Studies 1 and 2). In addition, it was found that to practitioners, noninfluence strategies of emotion regulation are active, purposeful strategies and, especially to Buddhist practitioners, they involve acceptance of emotions (Study 2). Furthermore, religion was indirectly linked to the behavioral preference for a noninfluence strategy through the self-reported general use of a noninfluence emotion regulation strategy (Study 3). Implications for research on religion, self-regulation, and mental health are briefly discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).