Misery Loves Company, Acquaintance Not Required: Effects of Similar Experiences and Interpersonal Distance on Interpersonal Emotion Regulation

The complete and standardized processing steps are presented as follows:Step 1: Raw data aggregation. All original data from participants were summarized and integrated into a unified dataset. All original response records were fully retained to avoid data omission.Step 2: Invalid data elimination.

Invalid samples were screened and excluded, including questionnaires with identical responses across all items, regular patterned random filling, and samples with missing values in core variables, ensuring the authenticity and validity of all retained data.Step 3: Data coding and quantification. Categorical variables (e.g., interpersonal distance grouping, similar experience grouping, and demographic variables) were numerically coded according to unified standards.

Continuous variables such as emotion regulation scores retained their original values to unify data format and meet the requirements of statistical analysis.Step 4: Outlier detection and correction. The Z-test was adopted to detect outliers in continuous variables. Extreme values with |Z| > 3 were marked and verified in combination with experimental contexts.

Invalid extreme outliers were excluded, while valid extreme values were retained to avoid subjective data modification.Step 5: Data sorting and archiving. Valid data were sorted and categorized by variables with standardized variable naming, forming a finalized dataset for subsequent statistical analysis.1.3 Equipment and ToolsData collection tools: paper questionnaires and physiological polygraph. Data processing and analysis tools: SPSS 26.0, Excel 2021, and Acknowledge 5.0, which were used for data aggregation, coding, outlier detection and descriptive statistics.

Data archiving tools: WPS Office, applied for dataset sorting, record keeping and standardized file storage.2. Temporal and Spatial Information and Data Resolution2.1 Temporal InformationAll data were collected within a unified and concentrated experimental period. No cross-seasonal or cross-year temporal deviations existed, guaranteeing high temporal consistency of the dataset.2.2 Spatial InformationAll participants were recruited from the author’s university.

The sample is representative of the general characteristics of interpersonal emotion regulation among college students.2.3 Resolution SpecificationThe dataset consists of subjective psychological evaluation data and physiological data, with no physical resolution indicators such as spatial or image resolution. All questionnaire scores were retained to two decimal places, ensuring unified and standardized data precision.3.

Dataset Structure, Sample Size and Variable Definition3.1 Sample SizeA total of 100 samples were initially recruited in this study. All valid samples were included in subsequent data analysis, and the sample size satisfies the statistical power requirements of psychological empirical research.3.2 Definition of Row and Column LabelsEach row of the dataset corresponds to the complete data of an individual participant, representing an independent sample record.Core column variables include participant role (experiencer, regulator), interpersonal distance (friend, stranger), experiential condition (similar experience, dissimilar experience), and multi-stage interpersonal emotion regulation indicators (arousal level, pleasure level, and physiological indicators).3.3 Unit of MeasurementAll core outcome variables were measured using a 9-point Likert scale.

Grouping variables are categorical coded variables for sample characteristic statistics with no measurement unit. Physiological data are derived from heart rate variability indicators in the form of ratios and are unitless.4. Data MissingnessNo missing values were found for any core variables in the dataset.5.

Data Error Sources and Error Range5.1 Error SourcesThe dataset contains both subjective self-reported data and instrument-based physiological data, with two categories of controllable errors. The first category is subjective response error: questionnaire data were self-reported by participants, which may produce minor random deviations due to individual instantaneous emotional states, response engagement and subjective cognitive differences.

In addition, standardized psychological scales have inherent minor systematic measurement errors, which are common in psychological empirical research. The second category is instrumental systematic error: physiological data collected by the physiological polygraph may generate trivial errors during signal acquisition, filtering, amplification and transmission due to environmental electromagnetic interference, subtle sensor fitting deviations and inherent equipment precision thresholds.

To strictly control data quality and reduce error interference, multiple measures were implemented, including optimizing questionnaire items through pilot experiments, eliminating invalid responses, standardizing experimental environments, and calibrating the physiological polygraph before formal experiments. These approaches effectively mitigated the adverse impacts of subjective bias and instrumental errors on the dataset.5.2 Error RangeNo significant extreme errors exist in the dataset.

After outlier detection and data calibration, all errors fall within the acceptable range of conventional random errors in psychological research. There are no artificial operational errors, persistent equipment errors or structural systematic biases. The dataset is authentic, reliable and highly repeatable, which can effectively support the empirical analysis and research conclusions of this study.