The role of activation level and emotion regulation strategies in skin-picking behaviours : findings in non-clinical sample

Previous studies indicated that heightened tension may be an important factor triggering skin picking behaviours, however, we still lack data concerning the role of tension in triggering different types of skin picking behaviours. We hypothesized that focused skin picking which is performed with full awareness is associated with heightened tension and is aimed at tension reduction, whereas automatic skin picking which is mostly unaware is associated with deactivation states and is aimed at increasing activation. In the study we also tested whether the relationship between subjective experience of activation/deactivation and skin picking is moderated by the tendency to use particular emotion regulation strategies. Two hundred twenty-five participants were assessed with self-reported questionnaires measuring skin picking, activation/deactivation and emotion regulation. Scores obtained from eighty-nine participants who confirmed skin picking were analysed. The regression analyses and moderation analyses were performed. Results indicated that both focused and automatic skin picking are associated with heightened activation (tension). The results also revealed that the experience of calmness reduces focused skin picking, however, only among individuals with a lower tendency to use expressive suppression as an emotion regulation strategy. Calmness was also confirmed to diminish automatic skin picking in participants who apply cognitive reappraisal to deal with emotional states. The results obtained in the study suggest that heightened tension may be an important factor triggering both focused and automatic skin picking and that particular emotion regulation strategies may influence the link between subjectively experienced activation/deactivation and picking behaviours in a non-clinical sample.The role of activation level and emotion regulation strategies in skin-picking behaviours.