Prediction of generalized anxiety and social anxiety based on cognitive flexibility in mothers of autistic children with the role of emotion regulation mediator
Subject Areas : general PsychologyLeyla Pirmohammadi Poorfard 1 , Raziyeh Esmaeili 2 , Maliheh Bidaghi 3 , Maliheh alsadat Zargar Moradi 4
1 - Master of Clinical Psychology, Counseling and Psychology Department, Roudhan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, lp.pourffard95@gmail.com
2 - (Corresponding author), Master of Psychology, Counseling and Psychology Department, South Tehran Branch, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran, raha.esmaeili.94@gmail.com, tell: 09369661541
3 - Master of Psychology, Counseling and Psychology Department, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, malihe@gmail.com
4 - Ph.D. student of health psychology, Department of Counseling and Psychology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iranzargar@gmail.com
Keywords: cognitive flexibility, emotion regulation, generalized anxiety, mothers of autistic children, social anxiety,
Abstract :
Abstract Introduction: Taking care of autistic children makes the family, especially the mothers, face stress, anxiety and various problems, therefore, considering the necessity of research in this regard, the purpose of this research is to predict generalized anxiety and social anxiety based on cognitive flexibility in mothers of autistic children. It was with the mediator role of regulating excitement. Research method: The research design is a descriptive correlation of the path analysis type. The research population was all the mothers of autistic children who referred to autism centers in Tehran in the second 6 months of 2022, and among them, 122 people with male children between 7 and 11 years of age were selected as a sample. The tools of this research included the Short Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale by Spitzer et al. (2006), Social Anxiety Scale by Conner et al. (2000), Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by Gross and John (2003). Findings: The results showed that cognitive flexibility has a negative and significant relationship with generalized anxiety (r=-0.44, p<0.01) and social anxiety (r=-0.37, p<0.01) and between cognitive flexibility and adjustment There is also a positive and significant relationship with emotion regulation (r=0.56, p<0.01). Also, a significant negative relationship was found between emotion regulation and generalized anxiety (r=-0.42, p<0.01) and social anxiety (r=-0.38, p<0.01). The results of path analysis to examine the proposed model showed that emotion regulation plays a mediating role in the relationship between cognitive flexibility and generalized anxiety and social anxiety. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that emotion regulation as a component affecting generalized anxiety and social anxiety is affected by cognitive flexibility.
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