Effect of emotional regulation on depression, anxiety and stress among cardiac patients

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effect of emotional regulation on psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) in patients suffering from cardiac issues. Methodology: Non probability purposive sampling technique was employed and sample of the study was collected from March 2015 to August 2016 from Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Heart International (HIN), and Rawal Institute of Cardiology (RIC). All patients were assessed for emotional regulation difficulties and depression, anxiety and stress. To assess the study variables the emotional regulation was assessed by emotional regulation questionnaire and psychological distress was assessed by depression anxiety stress scale. Results: Out of 150 cardiac patients, 53.3% were male and 46.7% female with age range of 20- 60 years. Multiple regression analysis showed that discomfort intolerance, emotional intolerance, and achievement frustration elucidated 53.5% alteration in subscale of emotional reappraisal. Whereas, 51.8% variance in expressive suppression was explained by combined effect of discomfort intolerance, entitlement, emotional intolerance, and achievement frustration. Conclusion: Emotional reappraisal facilitates to reduce depression, anxiety and stress. Expressive suppression increases feeling of depression, anxiety and stress among the cardiac patients.