Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies on Self-care in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: Investigating the Mediating Role of Self-compassion

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common disorders that are highly influenced by psychological factors. The aim of this study was to determine the cognitive emotion regulation strategies on self-care in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The research method was cross-sectional descriptive correlational and was performed by structural equations. The study population included all patients with cardiovascular disease aged from 25 to 70 years old who referred to educational and medical centers in Isfahan during 2016-2017. Four hundred patients were selected by convenience sampling method and they answered three questionnaires of Garnefski Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Neff Self-compassion, and Jarasma Self-care Behavior in patients with heart failure. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression simultaneously.

The results showed a direct and significant correlation between the positive emotion regulation score with self-compassion (P = 0.020 and r = 0.116) and with self-care (P = 0.001; r = 0.205). According to the indirect effect coefficient β = 0.046, the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between positive emotion regulation and self-care was supported. Also, the indirect effect coefficient β = 0.046 of self-compassion can be a good mediator between negative emotion regulation and self-care.

The cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion can explain the improvement of self-care in patients with cardiovascular disease; and self-compassion is considered an important mediator. Therapists are suggested to pay attention to self-compassion and psychological capital, because awareness of variables can provide quality services to patients.