AGE AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN AFFECT REGULATION STRATEGIES

The purpose of study was to examine gender and age differences in average use of affect regulation strategies in a representative sample of Croatian citizens. There were 891 subjects divided in four age groups: young, middle-age, aged and older adults. The affect regulation strategies were described by seven behavioral and cognitive strategies that people use to regulate their negative feelings in every day life. For analyses of gender and age differences in use of affect regulation strategies MANOVA was performed with gender and age groups as independent variables and affect regulations strategies as dependent variables. Significant multivariate main effects for both variables were found. Females used more venting strategies than males, which could be partly explained by the social component involved in that group of regulation strategies. Females appeared more likely to engage in rumination strategies than males, which is in accord with findings in the depression and rumination literature. Results also showed significant decline in the use of particular strategies by age. There was only one significant interaction between gender and age. Young, middle and aged females used significantly more venting/expressing than males, while for old age females and males the use of this strategy did not differ.