The Effect of Distress Tolerance and Emotional Self-Regulation on Complicated Grief with the Mediating Role of Social Support in Survivors of Kermanshah Earthquake

Abstract

Background: Bereavement is a person's response to loss that has a physical, psychological, or social aspect. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of distress tolerance and emotional self-regulation on complicated grief with the mediating role of social support. Methods: The research method was descriptive and the research design was a structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all survivors of the Kermanshah earthquake who are suffering from complicated grief in 2019 and are selected by convenience sampling method. Data obtained by Grief Experience Questionnaire (GEQ), Social Support Scale (MOS-SSS), Emotional self-regulation questionnaire and Distress Tolerance Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling using SPSS.22 and PLS2-SMART software. Results: The results of this study showed that the relationship between the variables of the study was significant, and distress tolerance, self-regulation, and social support have the ability to predict complicated grief (p <0.001). Also, social support has the mediating variable between distress tolerance and emotional self-regulation on complicated grief (p <0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, earthquake survivors should be able to control the tolerance of grief after the earthquake by increasing their distress tolerance and emotional self-regulation and with social support from others.