Abstract: The effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies varies by culture. This study compared the effects of acceptance and suppression as emotion regulation strategies among Chinese university students. A total of 114 participants were randomly assigned to three groups: acceptance, suppression, and control. Subjective emotional responses, heart rate, respiration, and skin conductance level were measured before, during, and after the film. The results showed that during the film, participants in the suppression group reported
significantly lower negative emotions compared to those in the acceptance group. No significant differences were found in physiological responses between the acceptance and suppression groups. However, compared with the control group, the suppression group exhibited a lower respiratory rate and a lower heart rate during the recovery period. Suppression effectively reduced negative emotions and physiological responses, while acceptance may enhance immediate emotional experiences. The findings highlight the important role of cultural context in the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies.