Emotion regulation and the quality of life in patients with essential hypertension: a search for psychological targets

Background: Essential hypertension (HTN) is a chronic disease, which is associated with a reduction in the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Most studies have examined the relationship between HRQoL and medical or sociodemographic features, whereas the implementation of tasks related to increasing the HRQoL is not possible without taking psychological factors into account. Studies highlight the importance of emotion regulation in the course and treatment of HTN as well as in the development of psychological interventions for hypertensive patients. The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and the HRQoL in hypertensive patients. Material and methods: 30 patients with HTN (21 women and 9 men) aged 44–85 (M = 64.6, SD = 10.0) were recruited in Bydgoszcz (Poland). The patients filled out the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF questionnaire. Results: All maladaptive cognitive coping strategies (e.g., catastrophizing, blaming others or rumination) were not related to HRQoL, whereas most adaptive cognitive coping strategies (positive reappraisal, refocus on planning or putting into perspective) were positively correlated with the HRQoL. In particular, positive reappraisal strategy has a highly significant role for the HRQoL in hypertensive patients. Conclusions: The role of adaptive cognitive coping strategies is significant in terms of implementing appropriate psychological support, including the improvement of the HRQoL for patients with HTN. Practical applications of the study are being discussed.