Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the possible interrelation of regulatory focus, authenticity and negative emotional responses to the frustration that surrounds relational and independent self-aspects in Turkey, both of which are witnessing a rise among the educated-urbanized population. Previous findings show that both independent self-aspects and relational self-aspects may be experienced authentically, while authenticity of self appears to be associated more closely with promotion focus than prevention focus. We proposed a model in which authenticity mediates the relationship between promotion focus and emotional responses to independent and related self-frustration, while prevention focus directly predicts emotional responses to relational self-frustration, and promotion focus directly predicts emotional responses to independent self-frustration. The proposed model is tested on self-reported data collected from Turkish university students (N = 317). The results reveal that promotion focus was a direct predictor of emotional responses to frustration of the independent self-aspect, while prevention focus predicted directly the emotional responses to frustration of the relational self-aspect. Authenticity was found to mediate the relationship between promotion focus and the emotional responses to frustration of the relational self-aspect. These results suggest that relational goals, such as safeguarding the interests of significant others, may be regulated not only with prevention strategies, but also with promotion strategies, through perceived authenticity.
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Akfırat, S., Gül, A. & Yetim, Ü. Interrelations among Regulation Focus, Authenticity and Emotional Responses to Frustration of Self-Related Experiences among University Students in Turkey. Curr Psychol 35, 99–107 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9370-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9370-6