A Partial Examination of the Emotion Dysregulation Model of Distress Symptoms in an Iranian Community Sample

Background: The comorbidity of generalized anxiety and major depressive disorders and the challenges of distress disorders create a model such as emotion dysregulation. Objectives: The present study aimed at examining the emotion dysregulation model of distress symptoms in a community sample. Materials and Methods: A total of 508 individuals were recruited from a community sample, using convenience sampling method. The participants filled in the questionnaires that assess their safety motivation and emotional intensity, emotion regulation strategies (attentional control, acceptance, decentering, and reappraisal), and distress symptoms (depression, generalized anxiety symptoms, worry, and rumination). The structural equation modeling was used to assess the fitness model. Results: The model yielded a good fitness (χ2=64.51, df=26, χ2/df=2.48, P<0.001, CFI=0.97, GFI=0.97, PCFI=0.56, and RMSEA=0.05). The emotion dysregulation model of distress symptoms has an acceptable fitness. Conclusion: The mediating role of emotion regulation strategies in this model highlights the important effects of emotion regulation abilities in protecting individuals suffering from distress symptoms.