Attentional Control Moderates the Relationship Between Race-Related Stress and Emotion Dysregulation in a Highly Trauma-Exposed Population of Black Women

Race-related stress contributes to emotion regulation difficulties and influences stress-related coping practices among Black women. Attentional control, a factor related to emotion regulation and coping, may shape this process; however, little research has explored its role. The present study examined whether attentional control may moderate the association between race-related stress and dimensions of emotion regulation. Participants were 84 Black women ( M age = 43.91, SD age = 12.6) who completed self-report measures as part of a large study on risk and resilience among trauma-exposed populations. Attentional control, race-related stress, and emotion regulation difficulties were assessed using validated measures. Results revealed that attentional control moderated the association between race-related stress and emotion regulation difficulties, even after controlling for trauma exposure, age, and socioeconomic status. These findings highlight attentional control as a potential resilience factor that may mitigate the negative influence of race-related stress on emotion regulation difficulties in Black women.