Soutenance de thèse – Carla Nardelli

Titre de la thèse : Emotion Regulation Flexibility: what does it mean, and how can it be measured and improved?
Composition du Jury :
Catherine Bortolon (UGA) : Direction de thèse
Céline Baeyens (UGA) : Co-direction de thèse
Maya Tamir (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) : Rapportrice
Pierre Philippot (Université Catholique de Louvain) : Rapporteur
Kristin Gainey (The University of Western Australia) : Examinatrice
Yannick Morvan (Université Paris Nanterre) : Examinateur
Anna Tcherkassof (UGA) : Examinatrice
Matthias Berking (Friedrich Alexander Unversitat) : Invité

Abstract : This thesis aimed at exploring emotion regulation (ER) flexibility from a theoretical, methodological, and clinical perspective. ER flexibility, defined as the ability to synchronise ER strategies with situational demands, has been conceptualised and operationalised in various ways, using correlational, experimental, and daily designs. Chapter 1 describes the most influential models of ER, leading us to the presentation of ER skills and a French validation of the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire (Study 1). The theoretical underpinnings of flexibility are presented in Chapter 2, in which we investigate the different measures of flexibility. First, questionnaires are addressed, leading to a French validation of two scales measuring two specific components of flexibility (i.e., context-sensitivity and repertoire) (Study 2). Next, experimental and daily measures are explored in a Systematic review (Study 3). Finally, an experimental study on ER choice conducted during this thesis is presented (Study 4). Chapter 3 deals with the third question of this thesis, that is, the extent to which ER flexibility can be improved. We thus describe clinical interventions targeting (explicitly or implicitly) ER and flexibility, with a specific interest in one particular intervention, named the Affect Regulation Training (ART). We have explored the role of ER variability and flexibility by conducting a Randomised Controlled Trial testing the efficacy of the ART, using an experience sampling method (Study 5). A general discussion attempts to integrate findings into a broader perspective, including limitations and future lines of research in ER flexibility.