The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation in the Relationship of Distress Tolerance and Self-compassion With Health-promoting Behaviors

Objective :

This study aims to determine the mediating role of emotional regulation in the relationship of distress tolerance and self-compassion with health-promoting behaviors.

Methods:

 The is a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in 2020 on 306 adults in Bandar Abbas, Iran who were selected using a convenience sampling method. The data collection tools were Simmons and Gaher’s distress tolerance scale, Raes et al.’s self-compassion scale, and Walker et al.’s health-promoting lifestyle profile, and Garnefski and Kraaij’s cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire. The analysis was done using the structural equation modeling.

Results :

Adaptive emotion regulation strategies mediate the relationship of self-compassion and distress tolerance with health-promoting behaviors positively and significantly. The maladaptive emotion regulation strategies only could positively and meaningfully mediate the relationship between distress tolerance and health-promoting behaviors.

Conclusion:

 Considering the role of study variables in promoting health- promoting behaviors, health planners and health providers can take useful steps to improve society’s health.