The mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between harm avoidance and psychological well-being in parents of children with cancer

Pediatric cancer is a life threating and challenge for family and it may affect adjustment and mental health of the family members. Many factors such as harm avoidance and emotion regulation strategies may have a role in people's wellbeing when coping with stressful situations. The aim of the present study was to examine the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategis on the relationship between harm avoidance and psychological well-being in parents of children with cancer.
Method of the present exploratory study was correlational. A sample of 140 parents of children with cancer (70 men, 70 women) referred to one of the 3 assigned hospitals have been selected through convenience sampling method. All participants were asked to complete Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), harm avoidance subscale of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), and psychological well-being subscale of Mental Health Inventory (MHI).
The results showed that harm avoidance and psychological well-being are correlated with cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Regression analysis releaved that the relationship between harm avoidance and psychological wellbeing was mediated by cognitive emotion regulation strategis.
It can be concluded that the relationship between harm avoidance and psychological well-being is not a simple linear one. This is partly mediated by cognitive emotion regulation strategis. Investigating the reciprocal effect of emotion regulation strategis and personality characteristics provides researcher with a more precise explanation of the role each of which may has on behavior and mental health.