The Role of Emotion Regulation in the Quality of Life of Patients with Chronic Illness: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Chronic diseases can substantially affect patients’ physical functioning, psychological well-being, social relationships, and overall quality of life. Emotion regulation is considered an important psychological process that may help individuals adapt to disease-related stressors and manage negative emotional experiences. This systematic literature review aimed to examine the conceptual and empirical role of emotion regulation in the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases. The review employed a systematic literature review approach, using literature searches across Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search strategy focused on publications from 2016 to 2026 concerning emotion regulation, chronic diseases, psychological well-being, and quality of life. Twelve articles were reported as included in the review, and their findings were intended to be synthesized narratively. The available empirical literature indicates that difficulties in emotion regulation are associated with chronic pain and psychological distress. Koechlin et al. (2018) reviewed 15 studies examining emotion regulation in chronic pain, while Norman-Nott et al. (2024) analyzed eight studies involving 902 participants and found that emotion regulation-focused interventions reduced pain intensity compared with usual treatment. These findings support the potential relevance of emotion regulation in chronic illness management, although they do not establish a direct effect on quality of life. In conclusion, adaptive emotion regulation may support psychological adjustment to chronic disease and complement medical treatment. Further research should directly investigate quality-of-life outcomes across different chronic conditions.