Emotion regulation strategies among Saudi university students: exploring cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression

This study investigated the prevalence and patterns of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression as emotion regulation strategies among Saudi university students. A cross-sectional research design was employed, with data collected from 330 participants using the ‘Emotion Regulation Questionnaire’ and demographic information. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate utilization of both strategies, with cognitive reappraisal (M = 3.08) being employed slightly more than expressive suppression (M = 2.94). Independent-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were conducted to examine differences in strategy use across gender, field of study (STEM vs. non-STEM), academic performance, and university level. Results indicated a statistically significant difference in cognitive reappraisal based on gender, with female students reporting higher engagement than male students (p = 0.008). However, no significant differences were found across other demographic variables for either strategy. These findings suggest that while Saudi university students moderately engage in both cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, gender influences the use of cognitive reappraisal. The study confirms the need for culturally sensitive interventions promoting adaptive emotion regulation to improve students’ well-being and academic success. Future research should explore additional strategies, demographic intersections, and longitudinal changes in emotion regulation within the Saudi university context.