The current study followed a between-group design.
The between-group factor was emotional-regulation
group (high vs low). The dependent variables were
time of immersion, affective pain, sensory pain, and
affective state before and during the task.
In the first phase of the study, the tests were administered
in a single 15-minute session during normal class
hours and in the presence of the main investigator.
Participation was voluntary.
One month later, the women who formed the 2 experimental
groups (high emotional-regulation group and
low emotional-regulation group) were requested to participate
in the second phase of the study, which was also
voluntary. Upon arriving at the laboratory, the participants
were given the following written instructions:
‘‘You are going to undergo a physically painful experience.
Our goal is to assess your degree of pain. For this
purpose, you should place your nondominant hand in
a tray of very cold water. It is important to keep your
hand in the tray for as long as possible; nevertheless,
you can remove your hand if you feel that you cannot
stand the painful experience any longer. Periodically (every
15 seconds), we will ask you about the degree of sensory
and affective pain you are feeling. You can respond
on a 0-10 scale for each one of these variables, where 0 is
no pain and 10 is unbearable pain.’’
Once they had read the instructions, the participants
consented to carry out the task. Before starting, they
completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale
(PANAS36). They then carried out the CPT. Immediately
after removing their hands from the water, the participants
again completed the PANAS, reporting their affective
state during the task.