Moderating effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between alexithymia and interpersonal problems

Emotion regulation plays a determinant role in psychological health and related disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the potential effects of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between alexithymia and interpersonal problems in a sample of Iranian students. Four hundred and forty three high school students (213 boys، 230 girls) from the city of Tehran schools participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ)، Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20)، and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-60). Results revealed a significant negative correlation between adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and interpersonal problems. Maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and alexithymia demonstrated a significant positive association with interpersonal problems. As substantiated through data analysis، the relationship between alexithymia and interpersonal problems was moderated by cognitive emotion regulation strategies. It can be concluded that the relationship between alexithymia and interpersonal problems is not simply linear and potentially influenced by both adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies.