Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Avoidant Coping Influence Negative Autobiographical Memory Recall

In three separate multilevel structural equation models (MSEM), we investigated how emotion regulation difficulties and avoidant coping predicted episodic features (i.e., episodic details, vividness, vantage point) in positive and negative autobiographical memories. Ninety-six young adults completed the Autobiographical Memory Task, consisting of 6 negative and 6 positive cue words that were used to elicit autobiographical memories. Individual differences (i.e., between-person variance) in emotion regulation difficulties predicted increased vividness, and avoidant coping predicted third-person perspective in negative autobiographical memories. Notably, accounting for within-person variance in our outcome measures, emotion regulation difficulties did not predict the number of episodic details reported. Cognitive control did not moderate these pathways, and these processes did not affect positive memories. These findings highlight the importance of studying individual differences in emotion regulation and coping styles as they relate to the experience of autobiographical remembering. The implications of these findings in psychopathology are discussed.