Structural Relationships between Emotional Regulation and Stress with Dissociation Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Depression

This study aims to detect the structural relationships between emotional regulation and stress with dissociation symptoms mediated by depression. The research method is applied in terms of purpose, and is descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection. The statistical population consists of all female students of the Islamic Azad University, Rudehen Branch, in the fall of 2019, among which 370 people were selected by convenience sampling. The study tools include Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Measure of Perceived Stress (MPS). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The fit of the research measurement model was assessed by confirmatory factor analysis using SPSS and Amos and maximum likelihood estimation. The present study showed that the indirect path coefficient between negative emotion regulation strategies and dissociation was positive and significant (p < 0.01, β=0.171). The indirect path coefficient between stress and dissociation symptom was positive and significant (p < 0.01, β=0.092). It seems that when a person experiences stress and depression due to emotional dysregulation, they realize the dissociation symptoms as the only way out of this situation. Based on the findings of the present study, it is recommended that in the treatment of people with depression, not only the perceived stress level and emotional regulation strategies of these people, but also the symptoms of dissociation in these people should be focused.