Published online Sep 19, 2021. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i9.619
Peer-review started: March 11, 2021
First decision: July 15, 2021
Revised: July 25, 2021
Accepted: August 18, 2021
Article in press: August, 18, 2021
Published online: September 19, 2021
People with bipolar disorder (BD) frequently struggle with the recurrence of affective symptoms. However, the interplay between coping mechanism and positive mood state remains under-researched.
To explore the associations among behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity level, coping, and positive mood states among people with BD.
Using a cross-sectional study design, 90 participants with BD were presented with four BAS-activating life event scenarios and assessed with regard to their BAS trait sensitivity, coping flexibility, and mood states. A hierarchical clustering method was used to identify different groups with different styles of coping. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the mediating and moderating roles of different components of coping on mood states.
A three-cluster solution was found to best fit the present data set. The findings showed that a low mass of coping combined with low BAS sensitivity level protects people with BD from detrimentally accentuating mood states when they encounter BAS-activating life events. Moreover, coping flexibility is demonstrated to mediate and moderate the relationships between BAS sensitivity level and mood states. Specifically, subduing the perceived controllability and reducing the use of behavioral-activation/emotion-amplifying coping strategies could help buffer the effect of positive affect.
The judicious use of coping in emotion regulation for people with BD when encountering BAS-activating life events was indicated. Practical applications and theoretical implications are highlighted.
Core Tip: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) essentially fail to regulate their emotions and behavior effectively due to their behavioral approach system (BAS) hypersensitivity. This research, based on the BAS dysregulation theory, explores the dynamic role of coping in emotion regulation for managing positive mood states due to BAS-activating life events. Results show that a low mass of coping combined with low BAS sensitivity level protects people with BD from detrimentally accentuating mood states. Practical applications for the improvement of stress management programs and theoretical implication for the extension of coping frameworks to include positive mood states are highlighted.