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To analyze the association between difficulties in emotion regulation and problematic pornography use (PPU) and test the mediating effect of loneliness. All 339 participants (M = 28.53 years, SD = 10.32) completed online self-report scales assessing difficulties in emotion regulation, PPU, and loneliness. Difficulties in emotion regulation are positively correlated with PPU. Loneliness partially mediates the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and PPU. Gender and intimate relationship status had moderating effects on the tested mediation model. Greater difficulties in emotion regulation have a significant indirect effect on PPU through loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form (DERS-SF): psychometric properties and invariance between genders B Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica (2022) 35:1-10 b B https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-022-00214-2 b Following publication of the original article (Gouveia et al., [1]), the below funding note was missing. Funding This work is financed by national funds the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the project UIDB/04585/2020. [Extracted from the article]

Experiencing trauma in childhood, adolescence or adulthood has severe negative impact on several areas of individuals' lives. Concerning their psychological health, consequences often arise in terms of emotional deficits, self-esteem and attachment [1]. Strategies of emotional regulation (ER) are extremely important in the individual's development and have implications in their self-concept and self-esteem [2]. The literature suggests that a better ER is directly associated with better self-esteem [3]. Some studies also show an association between attachment and the level of self-esteem [4]. Better attachment in adults is associated with high and stable levels of self-esteem [5]. The objective of this research is to study the impact of ER, self-esteem and attachment in Portuguese adults (above 18 years old) who have experienced trauma. This study contributes to scientific innovation in this field, considering that we found results never obtained in a Portuguese sample. This study comprised 137 Portuguese individuals' (69.3% women and 30.7% men) with ages between 18 and 70 years (M = 39.49, SD = 12.49), of which 74 (54.0%) experienced trauma in the last three years. This study was carried out by filling out online questionnaires and the link to the study was disclosed by e-mail and in social networks. The participants responded to a sociodemographic questionnaire, a checklist of some types of trauma experienced in the last three years, the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS) [6], the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) [7], and the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS-R) [8]. The study was conducted in accordance with all the ethical principles. The results showed a significant negative correlation between the DERS and the total score of the RSES (r = −0.509, p <.001) as well as between the DERS Strategies subscale and the RSES (r = −0.541, p <.001). There was a significant statistical negative correlation between the DERS Awareness and the AAS-R (r = −0.232, p =.006), and a significant statistical positive correlation between the total score of the DERS (r = 0.557, p <.001), the DERS Non-Acceptance (r = 0.500, p <.001) the DERS Strategies (r = 0.516, p <.001) and the AAS-R Anxiety. The results also showed significant statistical differences between individuals who experienced trauma in the Anxiety dimension of the AAS-R [F(1,136) = 8.91, p =.003]. Those who experienced trauma showed higher anxiety (M = 2.19, SD = 0.75). The results showed that if difficulties of emotional regulation and limited access to emotional regulation strategies decreases, self-esteem increases, which corroborates the literature [3]. Concerning the adult attachment, we found that if anxiety increases, difficulties of emotional regulation also increase, as well as lack of acceptance of emotional responses and limited access to emotional regulation strategies. Some studies reveal that attachment styles influence the strategies to express and regulate emotions [9]. All these findings have an impact on clinical and social levels, as they guide therapists to work in these specific areas with individuals who have suffered some form of trauma. Thus, our results help to develop psychological intervention programs to prevent psychopathology. Further studies should focus on the results of preventive and interventive efficacy of therapies implemented in society that focus on emotion regulation, self-esteem, and adult attachment in traumatised individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic events in a lifetime have an impact on the connection with others [1] and on emotional regulation in adults [2]. In the present study, we aim to analyse the relationship between traumatic events and the connection with others and to verify the relationship between traumatic events and emotional regulation. The study design is descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional. The sample consisted of 63 Portuguese adults divided into two groups according to whether participants had experienced traumatic events (G1: n = 28, 44.4%) or not (G2: n = 35, 55.6%) with ages between 18 and 61 years old (M = 28.78, SD = 12.61). The link to the study was disclosed by e-mail and in social networks. Participants answered online to a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) [3], the Adult Attachment Scale-R (AAS-R) [4], and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [5]. The study was conducted in accordance with all the ethical principles. There were significant statistical differences between G1 and G2 on the total scale of the CTQ [F (1,61) = 11.510, p =.001], and in the subscales Emotional Abuse, Anxiety, and Trusting Others. The total score of the CTQ showed a negative correlation with the Trusting Others (r=–0.299, p<.05) and a positive correlation with the total score of the DERS (r = 0.281, p<.05), and with Limited Access to Regulatory Strategies (r = 0.337, p<.05). There was a positive association between Emotional Abuse and Anxiety (r = 0.413, p<.05). The Emotional Neglect and the Physical Neglect showed correlations with the DERS, Inability to Engage in Goal-Directed Behaviour, Difficulty to Control Behaviour, and Limited Access to Regulatory Strategies. Participants who didn't experience trauma revealed higher scores of connections with others. Our results also demonstrate that victims of trauma in childhood develop dysfunctional patterns of emotions [6]. This research highlights the negative consequences of child abuse in adults, concerning emotional regulation and connecting with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of traumatic experiences in childhood can lead to a disruption in the development of secure internal representations, with a negative impact on self-esteem [1]. In addition, child victimisation may compromise their emotional regulation skills [2] and it has been shown that individuals with lower self-esteem have less emotional regulation skills [3]. Studies with adults showed that those who suffered several types of abuse during childhood tend to have worse interpersonal relationships [4]. This research has the main goals, to identify the relationship between the impact of childhood abuse on adult self-esteem and emotional regulation, and the relationship between self-esteem and emotional regulation. This is the first study in a Portuguese sample that integrates those variables. The study design is descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional. The sample was composed of 96 Portuguese adults (over 18 years old) (M = 27.95 years, SD = 11.60). The participants answered online to a sociodemographic questionnaire, Portuguese versions of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [5], the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) [6], and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) [7]. The link to the study was disclosed by e-mail and in social networks. The study was conducted in accordance with all the ethical principles. We found significant statistical positive correlations between the total score of the CTQ and the total score of the DERS (r = 0.422, p<.001) and the sub-scales of DERS: the not acceptance of emotional responses (r = 0.311, p=.002), difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour (r = 0.243, p=.017), impulse control difficulties (r = 0.431, p<.001)), limited access to emotion regulation strategies (r = 0.465, p<.001), and lack of emotional clarity (r = 0.209, p=.041). Furthermore, we observed statistical negative correlations between the total score of RSES and the total score of the CTQ (r=–0.319, p=.002), the total score of the DERS (r=–0.561, p<.001) and the sub-scales of DERS: the not acceptance of emotional responses (r=–0.413, p<.001), difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour (r=–0.336, p=.001), impulse control difficulties (r=–0.373, p<.001), limited access to emotion regulation strategies (r=–0.508, p<.001), and lack of emotional clarity (r = −0.542, p<.001). In our study, traumatic experiences in childhood were associated with emotional regulation difficulties in adults, which is corroborated by other studies [2]. Additionally, we found that individuals who were victimised in childhood tend to have a perception of lower self-esteem in adult life. The relationship between child abuse and self-esteem and also between child abuse and the emotional regulation difficulties proves the need to develop psychological intervention aiming to enhance the positive self-esteem and the adaptative emotional skills in adulthood. This research highlights the importance of developing intervention programs in victimised children, to reduce the impact of victimisation on self-esteem and emotional regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleasure-seeking reasons are the main drivers of pornography use (PU), but the regulation of unpleasant states, namely distraction from or suppression of negative emotions and stress relief, are other potential predictors of this behavior. Our main objective is to develop an explanatory model of problematic PU, assessing difficulties in emotion regulation, loneliness, perceived stress, as well as age and gender as predictors. A cross-sectional study was conducted that included a total of 340 participants (M = 28.50 years, SD = 10.32). Self-report inventories were administered that measured problematic PU (PPCS), difficulties in emotion regulation (DERS-SF), loneliness (UCLALS-3), and perceived stress (PSS-10). The findings were indicative of recreational PU, with only a small number of participants (4.6%) reporting a possible problematic PU. There were statistically significant gender differences (F (1,337) = 33.306, P ≤.001), namely that men were more likely to report problematic PU (M = 36.03, SD = 21.30) than women (M = 25.32, SD = 9.24). Problematic PU was significantly and positively correlated either with difficulties in emotion regulation, loneliness, perceived stress and age. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that difficulties in emotion regulation (β = 0.259, P ≤.001), loneliness (β = 0.209, P =.001), and gender (β = -0.377, P ≤.001) define the best subset of predictors of problematic PU. Age and perceived stress were not selected as predictors in this subset. The promotion of better emotion regulation abilities and strategies for adaptive coping with loneliness must be taken into consideration, namely in cases of problematic PU or compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Being a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample and the fact that these variables explain only a part of the explained variance of the problematic PU are the main limitations. Despite the limitations, the principal contribution of this study is the understanding that gender, difficulties in emotion regulation, and loneliness remain as main predictors of problematic PU, even when combined in the explanatory model. The current study provides a better understanding of the predictors of problematic PU related with the reduction or avoidance of unpleasant states. Emotion regulation, loneliness, and perceived stress, studied simultaneously, provide a better understanding of the complex relationships between these factors and problematic PU. Difficulties in emotion regulation and loneliness are predictors of higher problematic PU, as well as the expected gender effect. Cardoso J, Ramos C, Brito J, et al. Predictors of Pornography Use: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Loneliness. J Sex Med 2022;19:620–628. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]