The Calm before the Storm: Examining Emotion Regulation Consumption in the Face of an Impending Disaster

• Published in: Psychology & marketing Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. 933 - 945
• Main Authors: Kemp, Elyria, Kennett-Hensel, Pamela A., Williams, Kim H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-2014; Wiley Periodicals Inc
• Subjects: Consumer behavior; Disasters; Emotional regulation; Emotions; Self control; Stress; Studies
• ISSN: 0742-6046; 1520-6793
• DOI: 10.1002/mar.20744

ABSTRACT
In the midst of the physical damage and collective stress created by natural disasters, individuals come to terms with their utter lack of control. In the process, a myriad of emotions are experienced, with many of them being negative in nature. Research suggests that during moderately challenging situations individuals experiencing negative emotions may engage in coping attempts to improve their emotional state. Consumption has been one strategy used by individuals to mitigate negative emotions. This research extends previous research by exploring whether such emotion regulation processes occur in extreme conditions such as natural disasters. Specifically, it examines the emotions experienced by individuals, the antecedents of these emotions, as well as how individuals regulate their emotions through consumption. A conceptual model is proposed and tested in Study 1 and findings are once again corroborated in a follow‐up study. Implications for mitigating negative emotions and improving subjective well‐being during extreme crisis situations are discussed.