The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship Between Big Five Personality Traits and Anxiety and Depression Among Chinese Firefighters

Identification of protective factors to prevent firefighters' anxiety and depression is meaningful. We explored whether emotion-regulation strategies mediate the relationship between personality traits and anxiety and depression among Chinese firefighters. Approximately, 716 Chinese firefighters were recruited and completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Big Five Inventory−2 (BFI-2) Scale. Results (N = 622) indicated that only negative emotionality traits could predict anxiety symptoms. Meanwhile, the multilevel mediation effect analyses showed that conscientiousness through cognitive reappraisal could reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese firefighters. Our findings clarify Chinese firefighters' underlying emotion-regulation process between personality traits and anxiety and depression. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.