Mediator role of experiential avoidance in relationship of perceived stress and alexithymia with mental health.

This cross-sectional study investigated the mediatory role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between perceived stress and alexithymia with mental health. We enrolled 440 students (age 18-30 years) at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences through stratified random sampling method. The study tools were demographic checklist, GHQ-28, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Perceived Stress Scale. Data were analysed by SPSS-18 and AMOS-18 using Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM). There was a significant positive correlation between perceived stress and experiential avoidance, and alexithymia and mental health problems (P < 0.001). SEM showed that the relationship between perceived stress and mental health problems by experiential avoidance was 0.19 [(ß = 0.19; standard error (SE) = 0.09; P = 0.001], and the relationship between alexithymia and mental health problems through experiential avoidance was 0.09 (ß = 0.09; SE = 0.43; P = 0.01). The mediatory role of experiential avoidance was confirmed in such a way that the effects of alexithymia and perceived stress decreased.

Mediator role of experiential avoidance in relationship of perceived stress and alexithymia with mental health

This cross-sectional study investigated the mediatory role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between perceived stress and alexithymia with mental health. We enrolled 440 students [age 18-30 years] at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences through stratified random sampling method. The study tools were demographic checklist, GHQ-28, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Perceived Stress Scale. Data were analysed by SPSS-18 and AMOS-18 using Pearson correlation, hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modelling [SEM]. There was a significant positive correlation between perceived stress and experiential avoidance, and alexithymia and mental health problems [P < 0.001]. SEM showed that the relationship between perceived stress and mental health problems by experiential avoidance was 0.19 [[beta = 0.19; standard error [SE] = 0.09; P = 0.001], and the relationship between alexithymia and mental health problems through experiential avoidance was 0.09 [beta = 0.09; SE = 0.43; P = 0.01]. The mediatory role of experiential avoidance was confirmed in such a way that the effects of alexithymia and perceived stress decreased

La présente étude transversale a examiné le rôle de médiation de l'évitement expérientiel dans le rapport entre le stress perçu, l'alexithymie et la santé mentale. Nous avons inscrit dans cette étude 440 étudiants [âge compris entre 18 et 30 ans] de l'Université des Sciences médicales de Kermanshah par la méthode d'échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié. Les instruments utilisés dans l'étude étaient la liste de contrôle démographique, le questionnaire sur la santé générale en 28 items, l'échelle d'Alexithymie de Toronto à 20 items et l'échelle de mesure du stress perçu. Les données ont été analysées au moyen des logiciels SPSS-18 et AMOS-18 en recourant à la corrélation de Pearson, l'analyse de régression hiérarchique et la modélisation par équation structurelle. Il y avait une corrélation positive significative entre le stress perçu et l'évitement expérientiel, et l'alexithymie et les problèmes de santé mentale [p<0,001]. La modélisation par équation structurelle a montré que la relation entre le stress perçu et les problèmes de santé mentale causés par l'évitement expérientiel était 0,19 [[beta =0,19; erreur standard [ES]=0,09 ; p=0,001], et que la relation entre l'alexithymie et les problèmes de santé mentale causés par l'évitement expérientiel était 0,09 [[beta =0,09; ES=0,43; p=0,001.] Le rôle de médiation de l'évitement expérientiel a été confirmé de telle sorte que les effets de l'alexithymie et du stress perçu diminuent