The Relationship Between Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Depression in Female University Students Involved in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Interpersonal Problems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and depression in female students who were in romantic relationships. The research method was descriptive-correlational based on the research hypotheses. The sample of 317 participants were selected from all single female university students in Tehran province in the academic year of 1397-98 who had been in a romantic relationship for at least two months. The measurement tools used in the research were cognitive emotion regulation strategies questionnaire, depression scale, and interpersonal problems scale. The results were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).The results showed that emotion regulation strategies (adaptive/ maladaptive) with standardized coefficient of -0.04 and 0.10 respectively, had significant effect on depression by the mediation of interpersonal problems (p < 0.05). Based on the results, low adaptive emotion regulation strategies and high maladaptive emotion regulation strategies by the mediation of interpersonal problems could contribute to an increase in the symptoms of depression.

Keywords

• cognitive emotion regulation strategies
• interpersonal problems
• depression
• romantic relationships