Relationship review Cognitive flexibility and quality of life with psychosomatic symptoms mediated by distress tolerance in individuals with symptoms of Generalized anxiety

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with excessive worry and cognitive-somatic symptoms and has a significant impact on the cognitive flexibility and quality of life of individuals in ۲۰۲۴. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive flexibility and quality of life with psychosomatic symptoms in individuals with generalized anxiety symptoms, with an emphasis on the mediating role of distress tolerance. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included medical students at Zanjan University in ۱۴۰۲, of whom ۲۸۶ were selected by convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Distress Tolerance Inventory (DTS), Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and Psychosomatic Symptoms (SOMS-۷). The data were analyzed with SPSS and Amos software. Findings: Cognitive flexibility and quality of life had a negative direct effect on psychosomatic symptoms (P<۰.۰۱). Distress tolerance also moderated the relationship between cognitive flexibility (indirect effect: -۰.۱۴) and quality of life (indirect effect: -۰.۰۹) with psychosomatic symptoms (P<۰.۰۱). The model fit indices (CMIN/DF=۱.۲۸, RMSEA=۰.۰۵) indicated a favorable fit of the model. Conclusion: The findings showed that reduced distress tolerance in people with generalized anxiety disorder plays a key role in transforming psychological distress into physical symptoms. It is suggested that therapeutic interventions such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) should be implemented with the aim of increasing distress tolerance and cognitive flexibility in this group. Also, educational programs are necessary to improve quality of life and reduce psychosomatic symptoms

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive flexibility ، quality of life ، psychosomatic symptoms ، distress tolerance ، generalized anxiety disorder.