A pilot study examining differential relationships between inflammation and emotion dysregulation across young and middle adulthood.

Abstract

Objective: Emotion dysregulation disrupts normal biological function by increasing inflammation, thus putting people at risk for long-term health issues. These risks are amplified through aging, and accelerated biological aging poses a significant threat to longevity. This pilot study examined several emotion regulation skills, as well as emotion dysregulation broadly, and their relationship with inflammation among physically healthy adults.

Method: Community members (N = 79, _Mage = 30.88, SD = 11.4) completed a laboratory visit where they had their blood drawn to test for inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). They also completed self-report questionnaires assessing mindfulness, emotion dysregulation, and rumination.

Results: All models adjusted for body mass index, medication use, gender, and race. Among middle-aged participants, greater mindfulness was related to lower IL-6 (b = -0.01, SE = 0.002, p = .03). Conversely, greater rumination corresponded to higher IL-6 (b = 0.03, SE = 0.02, p = .03). Emotion dysregulation was related to higher IL-6 (b = 0.004, SE = 0.002, p = .02). Across each of these models, the simple slopes for the younger participants were not significant (ps > .29), highlighting that relationships between emotion regulation and inflammation were only robust for middle-aged, but not young adult, participants. Age did not moderate the relationship between emotion regulation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Conclusion: These data highlight how emotion regulation strategies, both adaptive and maladaptive, might influence inflammation. Given how inflammation increases with age, using these strategies may be protective against accelerated biological aging and promote greater overall wellness throughout adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).