The Relationship Between Caregiver Stress and Health Anxiety with the Mediation of Emotional Expression in Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Illnesses Admitted to Military Hospitals in Tehran

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between caregiver stress and health anxiety with the mediation of emotional expression in caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses admitted to military hospitals in Tehran.Methods and Materials: This study employed a correlational research design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population consisted of all caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses admitted to military hospitals in Tehran during the first half of ۲۰۲۳. The sample size was ۲۹۰ individuals, selected using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Novak and Guest Caregiver Stress Questionnaire (۱۹۸۹), the Salkovskis and Warwick Health Anxiety Questionnaire (۲۰۰۲), and the King and Emmons Emotional Expression Questionnaire (۱۹۹۰). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with LISREL ۸.۵۴ and SPSS ۲۴ software.Findings: The analysis of direct path coefficients revealed a significant direct relationship between caregiver stress (β = ۰.۲۳, p < ۰.۰۰۱) and emotional expression (β = -۰.۵۸, p < ۰.۰۰۱) with health anxiety. All model fit indices supported the acceptability of the structural model with the collected data (β = -۰.۴۲, p < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: The study's findings suggest that emotional expression can play an important role in reducing the negative effects of caregiver stress on the mental health of caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the relationship between caregiver stress and health anxiety with the mediation of emotional expression in caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses admitted to military hospitals in Tehran. Methods and Materials: This study employed a correlational research design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study population consisted of all caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses admitted to military hospitals in Tehran during the first half of ۲۰۲۳. The sample size was ۲۹۰ individuals, selected using convenience sampling. The research tools included the Novak and Guest Caregiver Stress Questionnaire (۱۹۸۹), the Salkovskis and Warwick Health Anxiety Questionnaire (۲۰۰۲), and the King and Emmons Emotional Expression Questionnaire (۱۹۹۰). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with LISREL ۸.۵۴ and SPSS ۲۴ software. Findings: The analysis of direct path coefficients revealed a significant direct relationship between caregiver stress (β = ۰.۲۳, p < ۰.۰۰۱) and emotional expression (β = -۰.۵۸, p < ۰.۰۰۱) with health anxiety. All model fit indices supported the acceptability of the structural model with the collected data (β = -۰.۴۲, p < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The study's findings suggest that emotional expression can play an important role in reducing the negative effects of caregiver stress on the mental health of caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses.

کلیدواژه ها:

emotional expression ، health anxiety ، caregiver stress