Cognitive Emotion Regulation as a Mediator of Trait Anxiety and Relational Aggression in Romantic Relationships of Heteronormative Individuals and Members of the LGBTQI Community

This study aims to examine the link of trait anxiety on relational aggression, with the presence of cognitive emotion regulation as a moderator. We measure the anxiety as a trait as a predictor for displaying aggressive behaviours. Moreover, the influence of individual maladaptive strategies was assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire on the level of relational aggression. The study involved 169 participants; in terms of sexual orientation, the respondents were divided nearly equally: heterosexual ( n = 85), and LGBTQI group ( n = 84). The data were collected through online surveys and paper methods. The eligibility criteria for participation included being an adult (age ≥ 18) and having been in at least one romantic relationship in the past and/or currently. The analysis results revealed that cognitive emotion regulation plays a mediating role in the relationship between trait anxiety and relational aggression. Individuals with higher levels of trait anxiety and maladaptive strategies demonstrated significantly higher levels of relational aggression. An analysis of group differences showed that mean of relational aggression towards a romantic partner was higher in the non-heterosexual group. Additionally, the mean use of maladaptive strategies was higher in the non-heterosexual group, while the average use of adaptive strategies was higher in the heterosexual group. The primary goal of this study was to examine whether cognitive emotion plays a mediating role in the relationship between trait anxiety and relational aggression in heterosexual group and members of the LGBTQI group, as the literature explores these links separately. The key aspect was to determine whether a filter in the form of a range of adaptive and maladaptive strategies influenced the occurrence of relational aggression among individuals high on trait anxiety.