The Mediating Role of Anxious Thoughts in the Relationship Between Emotional Dysregulation, Cognitive Functions, and Psychological Vulnerability in MS Patients
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Objective: Psychological vulnerability is a common concern among individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), often exacerbated by emotional dysregulation and cognitive impairments. This study aimed to evaluate a structural model examining the role of anxious thoughts as a mediator between emotional dysregulation and cognitive functions in predicting psychological vulnerability in MS patients.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) on a sample of 312 MS patients from the Tehran MS Society. Participants completed the Symptom Checklist (SCL-25), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire, and Anxious Thoughts Inventory. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 and AMOS-24. Bootstrapping was employed to test indirect effects.
Findings: Model fit indices indicated good model adequacy (CFI = 0.921, RMSEA = 0.076). Emotional dysregulation (β = 0.311, p < 0.001) and cognitive dysfunction (β = 0.260, p < 0.001) significantly predicted psychological vulnerability. Anxious thoughts had a direct effect on vulnerability (β = 0.463, p < 0.001) and significantly mediated the impact of both emotional dysregulation and cognitive impairment. The model explained 39.2% of the variance in psychological vulnerability.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that anxious thoughts are a key mechanism through which emotional and cognitive factors influence psychological vulnerability in MS patients. Psychological interventions that target emotional regulation and reduce anxious thinking may be effective in improving mental health outcomes in this population.
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