The Efficacy of Problem-Focused and Emotional Approach Interventions Varies as a Function of Emotional Processing Style

This study examined whether individual differences in emotional processing style (e.g., attention to and clarity of emotions) moderated the effectiveness of emotional approach and problem-focused interventions. Forty-one college freshmen were randomly assigned to one of two adjustment-to-college interventions: (a) an emotional approach intervention in which participants described their feelings, the sources of these feelings, and were provided with feedback about their feelings; or (b) a problem-focused intervention in which participants discussed how to solve their problems. Positive affect, negative affect, and anhedonic depression were measured before the intervention and 2 weeks subsequent to the intervention. Dimensions of emotional processing style were assessed using self-report. Participants low in attention to emotions benefited more from the emotional approach intervention, whereas those high in attention benefited more from the problem-focused intervention.