Investigation the structural model of the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation and defensive lifestyles with quality of life mediated by Alexithymia in patients with hypertension

High blood pressure is one of the most common and important factors threatening individuals’ mental health and quality of life. Accordingly, the study of important psychological factors such as cognitive regulation of emotion and defense styles used by patients with high blood pressure, and the impact of these variables on their quality of life can help them improve their psychological state.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural model of the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation and defensive lifestyles with quality of life mediated by Alexithymia in patients with hypertension.

The present study is descriptive and of correlations and structural equations type. The statistical population includes 700 patients with hypertension who referred to Shiraz Heart Hospital in the spring and summer of 1398. 480 patients were selected from among them. The research instruments included the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire of Garnefski et al. (2007), the Defense Styles Questionnaire of et al. (1993), Quality of Life Questionnaire of the World Health Organization (1996) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 Questionnaire by Tyler et al. (1994). Data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test , linear regression and structural equation modeling using SPSS 25 and LISREL 8/8 software.

The relationship between emotional cognitive regulation variables and defense styles with quality of life variable mediated by alexithymia in patients with hypertension is significant
(P< 0.001).

Applying cognitive emotion regulation strategies and defensive styles to overcome alexithymia by patients with high blood pressure can affect the quality of life of these patients.