Abstract

This study examined the effects of gender and generalized expectancies for negative mood regulation(NMR) on the use of negative mood regulation methods. We found three major results. First, men and women used different negative mood regulation methods. Women used more antifunctional methods than men, and men used more playful and deviant methods than women. Second, those who have high NMR used more behavioral, cognitive methods than those who have low NMR. And those who have low NMR used more antifunctional methods than those who have low NMR. Third, the difference of gender appeared among high NMR and low NMR people. No matter what NMR scores, Men used more playful and deviant methods than women. But women in high NMR group used more antifunctional methods than men, and women in low NMR group used more behavioral and passive methods than men. As the results, this study showed that gender affects the use of negative mood regulation methods and NMR is the factor which affects the way of negative mood regulation. The limitation of this study and the matter which study further was discussed.