A COMPARISON OF COGNITIVE EMOTION REGULATION STRATEGIES AND EMOTIONAL SCHE- MAS BETWEEN MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH MENTAL DISORDERS AND MOTHERS OF PHYSI- CALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN

HOSSEIN JENAABADI¹

¹Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate cognitive emotion regulation strategies and emotional schemas in mothers of chil- dren with mental disorders and mothers of physically and mentally disabled children.

Methods and Materials: The method of this study was descriptive followed by a casual-comparative design. The statistical population of this study included all mothers of children with mental disorders and mothers of physically and mentally disabled chil- dren in Zahedan. The statistical sample consisted of 63 mothers of children with mental disorders, including emotional disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, and developmental disorders, selected using the random sampling method. The sample was matched with 63 mothers of physically and mentally disabled children chosen among clients admitted to rehabilitation centers and clinics in Zahedan. These two groups filled out the Garnefski, Kraaij, and Spinhoven Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Leahy Emotional Schemas Scale. The obtained data was analyzed using the multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Results: The results indicated that compared to the mothers of disabled children, the mothers of children with mental disorders obtained higher scores on self-blame, catastrophizing, and other-blame (the subscales of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies), putting into perspective (the subscale of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies), emotional self-awareness, expression of feelings, not being controlled, comprehensibility, simplistic view of emotions, and acceptance of feelings (the subscales of emotional schemas).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that using these improper strategies can put these mothers at the risk of mental issues and conflicts. Therefore, through training efficient emotional schemas and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, these mothers can be aided to improve their conditions.