While the benefit of distraction over expression as an emotion regulation strategy has been shown, it is not clear whether this benefit generalizes across a range of activities. To find out, we compared distraction versus expression in drawing, writing, talking, and thinking to oneself. We induced a negative mood in 160 participants by asking them to visualize an upsetting experience. Participants were randomly assigned to an emotion regulation strategy (express or distract) and an activity (draw, write, talk, or think). Positive and negative affect was measured before and after the mood induction and after the activity. Distraction boosted positive affect more than did expression for the draw and think activities, but distraction lowered negative affect more than did expression for all four activities. We conclude that distraction is a more effective emotion regulation strategy than expression in improving mood especially for activities that involve drawing and thinking.

中文翻译：

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表达与分心

虽然已经显示出分散注意力而不是表达作为一种情绪调节策略的好处，但是尚不清楚这种好处是否可以推广到一系列活动中。为了找出答案，我们将自己在绘画，写作，交谈和思考方面的​​注意力与表情进行了比较。通过要求160位参与者可视化令人沮丧的体验，我们引起了他们的负面情绪。参与者被随机分配到一种情绪调节策略（表达或分散注意力）和一项活动（绘画，书写，交谈或思考）。在诱发情绪之前和之后以及活动之后测量正面和负面影响。分散注意力比画画和思考活动表达的积极影响更大，但是分散注意力比所有四个活动表达的负面影响更多。