Nature has published a study reporting that several commonly used methods for measuring cognitive reappraisal do not appear to capture the same underlying ability. The finding is notable because negative results are often difficult to publish, particularly when a study does not confirm an expected relationship.
Cognitive reappraisal is a process used in cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. It involves reconsidering a situation that has triggered a negative emotional response and interpreting it in a way that reduces its emotional impact. The ability to use this strategy has been associated with emotional resilience.
Because cognitive reappraisal is important to CBT, researchers have used different approaches to study it. These include examining brain activity, asking participants to complete questionnaires and measuring their emotional responses during specific tasks.
A large international collaboration evaluated three widely used indicators: trait questionnaires, affective ratings collected after participants attempted reappraisal in a task, and the reduction of amygdala activity during reappraisal. The researchers said these measures are often assumed to represent related aspects of reappraisal capacity.
The study’s results indicate that the measures do not consistently agree. This suggests that researchers currently lack a reliable, unified way to assess the impact or effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal, despite its importance as a concept underlying a major therapeutic approach.
Sources: Ars Technica.