Abstract

Beliefs regarding the controllability of emotions are closely associated with emotional distress, such as depression and anxiety. Most previous studies have focused on the unidirectional prediction of emotional distress based on emotion controllability beliefs. However, it is equally plausible that emotion controllability beliefs and emotional distress influence each other in a bi- directional manner. Using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM), this study aimed to elucidate the direc- tionality of the relationship between emotion controllability beliefs and emotional distress, with a focus on depression and anxiety. A total of 393 participants reported their emotion beliefs, and symptoms of depression and anxiety at time 1. They were followed up at 5 weeks (time 2), and 10 weeks (time 3). At the within-person level, higher-than-average levels of a per- son’s depression and anxiety symptoms predicted increases in beliefs that depression and anxiety are uncontrollable. In addi- tion, we found a significant bidirectional relationship between anxiety controllability beliefs and anxiety symptoms. These findings highlight the need to expand our current understanding of emotion controllability beliefs to account for the recipro- cal relationships between these beliefs and emotional distress, especially in the context of anxiety.