RELATIONSHIP AMONG EXPERIENTIAL AVOIDANCE, COGNITIVE EMOTION REGULATION STRATEGIES, AND DEPRESSION

Abstract

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric illness and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Experiential Avoidance (EA) and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategies are significant predictors of depression, yet their interaction remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between experiential avoidance, CER strategies, and depression, while examining the arbitrating role of maladaptive CER strategies in the association between EA and depression. A purposive sample of N= 354 patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder was recruited from three teaching hospitals. Following research and clinical ethics protocols, measures were administered. Results revealed that participants in the treatment group N=38 demonstrated statistically significant improvement in depression, general health, and quality of life, with sustained effects observed at 9 months post-baseline. Additionally, participants in the treatment group reported higher treatment satisfaction compared to the control group N=38. Spiritual-integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) shows promise in alleviating post-partum depression when compared to treatment as usual. Future research should explore the generalizability of these findings and investigate potential mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of spirituality-integrated CBT in treating depression.