Emotion Regulation: The Effectiveness of Reappraisal and Music on Anxiety
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Nicolette P. Rickert
Location
Russell Union Ballroom
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
Department
Psychology
Abstract
According to the American College Health Association’s national college health assessment, in Spring of 2025, 73% of respondents reported seeking assistance for feelings of overwhelming anxiety (American College Health Association, 2025). Finding accessible ways to manage these feelings is therefore key to maintaining a healthy student population. Literature has supported potential benefits to cognitive reappraisal as a method of emotion regulation, as well as intentional music usage as an enhancer of these effects (Chin & Rickard, 2013). It has been suggested that instruction be provided to individuals to use these methods, especially in highly stressed populations (Sakka et al., 2018). However, there has not been an experimental study to follow up on these claims. When instruction is provided, is cognitive reappraisal more effective than naturally developed habits in regulating anxiety, and would music enhance any potential positive effects? To examine this question, a sample of college students (N = 159), were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: control, cognitive reappraisal, or cognitive reappraisal plus music. Measures of emotion regulation tendencies as well as self-reported challenges with emotion regulation were also recorded as covariates, and the focal outcome variable was an anxiety difference score from pre-post condition. ANCOVA analysis will be used to analyze the data, with the expectation that reappraisal conditions will show a greater decline in anxious emotions, with music enhancing this effect. Implications, limitations, and future directions will be discussed.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-23-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
4-23-2026 4:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Greidinger, Ezra J., "Emotion Regulation: The Effectiveness of Reappraisal and Music on Anxiety" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 169.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026/2026/169
Emotion Regulation: The Effectiveness of Reappraisal and Music on Anxiety
Russell Union Ballroom
According to the American College Health Association’s national college health assessment, in Spring of 2025, 73% of respondents reported seeking assistance for feelings of overwhelming anxiety (American College Health Association, 2025). Finding accessible ways to manage these feelings is therefore key to maintaining a healthy student population. Literature has supported potential benefits to cognitive reappraisal as a method of emotion regulation, as well as intentional music usage as an enhancer of these effects (Chin & Rickard, 2013). It has been suggested that instruction be provided to individuals to use these methods, especially in highly stressed populations (Sakka et al., 2018). However, there has not been an experimental study to follow up on these claims. When instruction is provided, is cognitive reappraisal more effective than naturally developed habits in regulating anxiety, and would music enhance any potential positive effects? To examine this question, a sample of college students (N = 159), were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: control, cognitive reappraisal, or cognitive reappraisal plus music. Measures of emotion regulation tendencies as well as self-reported challenges with emotion regulation were also recorded as covariates, and the focal outcome variable was an anxiety difference score from pre-post condition. ANCOVA analysis will be used to analyze the data, with the expectation that reappraisal conditions will show a greater decline in anxious emotions, with music enhancing this effect. Implications, limitations, and future directions will be discussed.
