Effectiveness of Positive Therapy in Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

authors:

avatar Soheila Radmehr ORCID 1 , avatar Mohsen Jadidi ORCID 2 , * , avatar Morteza Golestanipour ORCID 3

Ph.D Student of Health Psychology, Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Quds Branch, Islamic Azad University, Quds, Iran
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Izeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Izeh, Iran

How To Cite Radmehr S, Jadidi M, Golestanipour M. Effectiveness of Positive Therapy in Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease. Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2024;26(2):e142671. https://doi.org/10.5812/zjrms-142671.

Abstract

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common chronic diseases. The role of heart attacks in death and the shortening of life is considered one of the most emotionally and psychologically influential diseases among individuals; therefore, the use of psychological and medical treatments for this group of patients is emphasized.

Objectives:

The present study sought to assess the effectiveness of positive therapy in emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease.

Methods:

The present study used quasi-experimental designs of pre-test and post-test followed up with a control group. The sample of this study included 45 subjects with coronary heart disease who were selected using available sampling in 2023. The distress tolerance questionnaire developed by Sevens and Gaher (2005) and the emotion regulation questionnaire developed by Granfsky et al. (2001) were used to collect the data in this study. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the data, and SPSS software (version 26) was used to carry out statistical analyses.

Results:

There was a statistically significant difference (0.05) in emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease between the experimental and control groups.

Conclusions:

Positive therapy can be inferred to be an effective intervention method for enhancing emotion regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease.

1. Background

Coronary heart disease is a significant global health concern and a leading cause of death worldwide (1). Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, account for 17 million deaths annually and are the primary cause of mortality globally. In Iran, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 39.3% of all deaths, with heart attacks comprising 19.5%, strokes 9.3%, high blood pressure 3.1%, and other cardiovascular diseases accounting for the remainder (2). This disease affects an individual’s physical health and has implications for their social relationships, lifestyle, family environment, employment, and income levels. Coronary heart disease has multifaceted effects on physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Although factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and obesity have traditionally been associated with the disease (3), research has shown that they are not causative factors. Recent evidence indicates that psychological factors, such as depression, anxiety, and hostility, play an independent risk factor in the development and occurrence of coronary heart disease. These psychological factors have physiological effects on individuals with the disease (4).

Emotions are crucial in adapting to stress and changes, influencing daily life (5). Emotions are biological reactions that arise in response to significant life challenges and situations, helping individuals coordinate their responses. Despite having a biological foundation, emotion regulation involves controlling one’s emotions and modes of expression (6). Inadequate emotion regulation can lead to the chronic activation of the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems, resulting in physical and mental health issues. Additionally, emotions modulate certain spinal reflexes, where positive emotions can inhibit receptors and reduce pain intensity. Conversely, negative emotions and physical pain symptoms can increase receptor activity and intensity (7).

Expressed or suppressed emotions are significant psychological factors that can influence the occurrence or exacerbation of cardiovascular disease. In particular, the long-term effects of suppressing negative emotions can increase sympathetic activity within the cardiovascular system (8). The impact of cardiovascular disease on a person’s emotional well-being and distress levels is considerable (9). Distress tolerance, which focuses on an individual’s perceived or actual ability to endure unpleasant or hazardous events, is influenced by both automatic (unconscious) and voluntary (conscious) processes. Experiential avoidance, a broader category of adaptive responses aimed at modifying upsetting internal experiences and their triggering circumstances, might encompass distress tolerance as a subtype (10).

Although the general concept of emotional inhibition involves suppressing ongoing emotional experiences, empirical research investigating this hypothesis currently needs to be improved. It is important to note that suppressing an aroused emotional state might or might not be an inherent component of distress tolerance (11). Various psychological interventions have been employed to enhance positive variables and reduce negative variables in patients with coronary heart disease. Researchers in recent decades have emphasized the importance of considering a broader role for psychological therapies in improving the well-being of individuals with coronary heart disease (12). Positive psychology therapy is one therapeutic option explored for this patient population (13).

Happiness is a central concept in positive psychology, as outlined by Rashid and Seligman, and it encompasses three components: Positive emotion (enjoyable life), engagement (attractive life), and meaning (meaningful life). Positive interventions aim to facilitate the cultivation of a pleasant, engaging, and meaningful life according to this perspective (14). Positive psychology represents a relatively recent branch of psychology that shifts the focus from studying abnormal behaviors to exploring human strengths and capabilities. Rather than concentrating on weaknesses and limitations, positive psychology emphasizes happiness, enjoyment, problem-solving, and optimism (15). It is a scientific field investigating factors that enhance individuals’ quality of life. Positive psychology promotes well-being by fostering positive experiences, character strengths, and supportive environments. Negative appraisals, situational fears, and avoidance are typical of psychological difficulties. Therefore, positive interventions can potentially disrupt this cycle and facilitate healing (16).

To summarize, coronary heart disease is a global health concern and a leading cause of death. Psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety, contribute to its development. Emotion regulation and distress tolerance are essential for managing the emotional impact of the disease. Positive psychology interventions aim to enhance well-being by promoting happiness and optimism. These interventions can potentially disrupt negative cycles and improve individuals’ quality of life.

2. Objectives

This study sought to ascertain the effectiveness of positive therapy in emotional regulation and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart disease because psychological issues contribute to performance issues in patients with coronary heart disease.

3. Methods

The present study used quasi-experimental designs of pre-test and post-test followed up with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all individuals with coronary heart disease who were referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Nowshahr, Mazandardan, in 2023. The samples of this study consisted of 45 patients with coronary heart disease who were chosen using available sampling methods. The inclusion criteria were being at least 30 years old, having a minimum educational level of high school diploma or equivalent, not receiving any psychotherapeutic treatments since the diagnosis of coronary heart disease, and not having severe medical conditions, such as epilepsy, musculoskeletal disorders, or respiratory impairments that could hinder their ability to tolerate long therapy sessions. Furthermore, participants who were absent for more than two therapy sessions were considered ineligible and excluded from the program.

3.1. Emotion Regulation Questionnaire

In 2001, Garnefski et al. (17) developed this survey. Separate versions of this multidimensional questionnaire and self-report instrument for adults and children have a total of 36 items. The reliability and validity of this questionnaire have been reported to be high by Garnefski et al. Each of the nine factors-self-blame, acceptance, rumination, positive refocusing, refocusing on planning, evaluating positive reappraisal, perspective taking, catastrophizing, and blaming others—are evaluated on a five-point scale (always or never) in 4 questions. The Persian translation of this scale has been confirmed to be accurate by Samani and Sadeghi (18). Using Cronbach’s alpha, it was observed that the negative emotion regulation methods subscale had a reliability coefficient of 0.78, the positive emotion regulation strategies subscale had a reliability coefficient of 0.83, and the total scale had a reliability coefficient of 0.81. According to the literature, the reliability of the scale is 0.75. In addition, the validity and reliability of the scale of cognitive techniques of emotion regulation are adequate and meet the requirements for application in Iranian society. Cronbach’s alpha, used in this study, indicated that this questionnaire was reliable (α = 0.83).

3.2. Distress Tolerance Questionnaire

This scale was created by Simons and Gaher as a self-assessment of emotional distress tolerance (19). This distress tolerance scale assesses an individual’s ability to tolerate emotional distress, mental assessment of distress, attention to negative emotions when they occur, and regulatory measures to alleviate distress. This scale consists of 15 items and four subscales: Emotional distress tolerance items (1, 3, 5), being absorbed by negative emotions items (2, 4, 15), mental estimation of distress items (6, 7, 9-11), and regulating efforts to relieve distress items (8, 13, 14). A 5-point Likert scale is used to score each item on this scale (1: Completely agree; 2: Slightly agree; 3: Neither agree nor disagree; 4: Slightly disagree; 5: Completely disagree). The validity coefficient of the scale is reported as 0.85. Furthermore, suitable for usage in Iranian culture, the scale of cognitive techniques for emotion regulation has the right validity and reliability. The reliability of this questionnaire was determined in the current study using Cronbach’s alpha, which was 0.79. High scores on this scale signify a high tolerance for distress. After 6 months, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.61%, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for these subscales were 0.72, 0.82, 0.78, 0.70, and 0.82 for the entire scale. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was reported as 0.86 and 0.67, respectively, in the study conducted by Alavi et al. in 2011 (20) (Table 1).

Table 1.

Positive Therapy Sessions Based on the Model of Rashid and Seligman (2013)

SessionsThe Title of the SessionThe Content of the SessionHomeworkSession Time (min)
FirstIntroduction and acquaintanceEstablishing and fostering initial communication, introducing group members to one another and the consultant, outlining research objectives and working methods, grouping and scheduling meeting times, outlining meeting rules and principles, stressing the value of adhering to them while participating actively in discussions and completing assignments, providing explanations during training sessions, learning about the idea of positive thinking and having a positive outlook, and pre-test implementation -60
SecondRecognizing one’s assets and becoming conscious of the advantages of positivityFinding one’s talents, deciding on life objectives and the course of desires, looking at strategies to go toward one’s desires and goals, looking at the key elements of a healthy life, understanding the advantages of positivity, and developing positive beliefs are all important life skills.Take note of his/her attributes and what others have said about him/her.60
ThirdOptimism skill trainingExamining the assignment of the second session, teaching the skill of optimism, and evaluating spontaneous thoughtsTake note of the positive traits that individuals have mentioned about you. Make a list of your unplanned thoughts.60
FourthLearning to have a positive view of othersExamining the assignment of the previous session (a form of strengths from the point of view of others and transferring them from the second and third columns to the first column)Take note of the abilities of 10 family members, relatives, friends, and coworkers.60
FifthTelling at least 10 to 15 good experiences and memoriesNote at least 10 to 15 good experiences and memories and recount them to the group members, listen to the good experiences of the group members, and extract the positive characteristics.Completing 10 to 15 good experiences and memories with family members at home.60
SixthExamining the strengths of memoriesExamining the strengths of memories, how to react when receiving feedback from others, teaching to change words positively, and increasing positive self-talkMake a list of your own replacement words.60
SeventhProviding valid evidence and criteriaPrioritizing one’s strengths and capabilities and presenting valid evidence and criteriaSummarizing all the positive features that they have found in themselves and using their reliable strengths in solving problems and issues60
EighthConclusionMaking a final summary, getting feedback from members, and saying positive sentences by them, implementing post-test, conducting the survey-60

3.3. Procedure

This study adhered to ethical principles by ensuring the voluntary participation of the individuals involved. Before the commencement of the project, the participants were fully informed about the study’s purpose, procedures, and guidelines. Their attitudes and opinions were respected throughout the research process. The participants had the freedom to withdraw from the study at any point without consequence. Additionally, the participants in the control group were allowed to receive the same intervention provided to the experimental group in similar treatment sessions after the completion of the project, should they express interest. Access to all confidential documents, questionnaires, and records was limited to authorized personnel only. Written informed consent was obtained from all volunteers, indicating their willingness to participate. Descriptive data analysis was conducted to calculate the statistical indices for each research variable. Inferential statistics, specifically analysis of variance with repeated measurements, were performed using SPSS software (version 22) for statistical analysis.

4. Results

For each of the variables examined in this study, the frequency and percentage are shown in the Tables 2 and 3, along with statistical markers, such as mean, standard deviation, and the number of sample subjects.

Table 2.

Distribution by Frequency and Comparison of the Demographics of Research Units

Demographic VariablesPositive TherapyWitnessP-Value
Marital status0.08
Single, divorced, or widowed3 (20.0)2 (13.3)
Married12 (0.80)13 (7.86)
Age (y)0.27
30 - 408 (53.3)6 (0.40)
41 - 505 (33.3)5 (33.3)
51 - 604 (26.7)2 (13.3)
Education0.19
Diploma6 (0.40)5 (33.3)
Bachelor9 (60)9 (60)
Master1 (6.7)0 (0)
Table 3.

Mean and Standard Deviation of Research Variables in Two Experimental and Control Groups a

VariablesPre-testPost-testFollow-up
Tolerating emotional distress
Experimental5.66 ± 0.7611.44 ± 0.7011.72 ± 1.01
Control5.33 ± 0.845.50 ± 0.785.66 ± 0.76
Being attracted by negative emotions
Experimental5.94 ± 0.7211.44 ± 0.7011.83 ± 1.20
Control4.88 ± 0.835.11 ± 0.675.50 ± 0.51
Subjective assessment of distress
Experimental7.00 ± 0.8413.05 ± 0.8012.38 ± 0.77
Control6.61 ± 0.776.38 ± 0.776.05 ± 0.53
Adjust distress relief efforts
Experimental5.33 ± 0.6811.50 ± 1.1511.72 ± 1.01
Control5.33 ± 0.595.44 ± 0.515.72 ± 0.46
Blood pressure
Experimental16.44 ± 1.7512.66 ± 1.9712.38 ± 1.78
Control15.88 ± 2.1115.38 ± 1.9715.44 ± 1.97
Excitement regulation
Experimental30.27 ± 8.1046.88 ± 11.6045.72 ± 11.70
Control35.44 ± 8.2035.61 ± 8.1136.20 ± 12.78

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov results for the research variables demonstrated that the amount of research variables was not significant at the level of 0.05, according to the obtained z. As a result, the distribution of data relevant to the study hypotheses was normal, and the assumption of data normality was met. Before analyzing variance with repeated measurements, the results of the M-Box, Mauchly’s sphericity, and Levene’s tests were examined to ensure that the assumptions were met. To ensure that the assumptions were met, the results of the M-Box, Mauchly’s sphericity, and Levene’s tests were evaluated before completing the repeated measure analysis of variance. The criteria of homogeneity of the variance-covariance matrices were met because the M-box test was not significant for any of the research variables. Additionally, the non-significance of any of the variables in Levene’s test showed that the condition of equality of variances between groups was met, and the amount of error variance of the dependent variable was equal in all groups. Finally, the examination of the results of Mauchly’s sphericity test showed that this test was also significant for the emotion regulation variable. Therefore, the assumption of the equality of variances within subjects (assumption of sphericity) was not met (Mauchly’s W = 0.63; df = 2; P > 0.0001).

Therefore, the Greenhouse-Geisser test was used to check the results of the univariate test for intragroup effects and interaction effects. The significance levels of all the tests were set at the 0.0001 level, indicating that there was a significant difference in the mean of the tests in terms of the effectiveness of positive therapy in improving emotion regulation in the two experimental and control groups. It should be mentioned that the Wilks’ lambda test with a value equal to 0.09 and the F = 132.67 test showed a significant difference between the scores of positive therapy effectiveness in improving emotion regulation and distress tolerance in the two experimental and control groups at a significance level of 0.0001.

Table 4 shows that the analysis of variance for the within-group factor (time) differs between groups. These findings indicated that the influence of time and group was considerable. The interaction of group and time was also significant (F = 111.36, df = 1.46), and its effect was 0.79. As a result, the fourth hypothesis was confirmed. Bonferroni’s post hoc test was also used for pairwise comparison of groups.

Table 4.

Using Variance Analysis with Repeated Measurements to Examine Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance at Pre-test, Post-test, and Follow-up

Scale and the Source of ChangeSSMSdfFP-ValueEta
Excitement regulation
Time67.2846.461.46160.630.0010.85
Time*group47.0232.211.46111.360.0010.79
Group94.4694.46199.150.0010.19
Tolerating emotional distress
Time185.08133.961.38124.710.0010.81
Time*group106.0276.731.3871.430.0010.71
Group51.2651.26187.500.0220.17
Being attracted by negative emotions
Time446.0675.321.35155.080.0010.84
Time*group356.0622.261.35123.790.0010.81
Group60.2960.29138.300.0700.10
Subjective assessment of distress
Time67.2846.461.46160.630.0010.85
Time*group47.0232.211.46111.360.0010.79
Group94.4694.46199.900.0040.26
Adjust efforts to relieve distress
Time230.46160.141.4379.160.0010.73
Time*group150.02104.241.4351.530.0010.64
Group17.4117.41186.180.0010.29

The results shown in Table 5 reveal that the experimental group, which received positive therapy, demonstrated higher scores in psychological distress tolerance during the post-test phase than the control group. This finding indicates that positive therapy had a significant impact on increasing the participants’ ability to tolerate psychological distress. However, it should be noted that there was no significant increase in psychological distress tolerance during the follow-up phase in the positive therapy group when compared to the control group. Moreover, the variable score for emotion regulation in the experimental group during the post-test phase was higher than that of the control group, suggesting that positive therapy had a positive effect on improving emotion regulation. However, similar to psychological distress tolerance, there was no significant increase in emotion regulation during the follow-up phase in the positive therapy group, compared to the control group.

Table 5.

Bonferroni’s Post Hoc Test Results to Compare Emotion Adjustment and Distress

VariablesGroupLevelsPost-testFollow-up
Excitement regulation Positive therapyPre-test-5.74 a-6.07 a
Post-test--0.33
Control groupPre-test0.090.11
Post-test-0.07
Tolerating emotional distress Positive therapyPre-test-7.66 a-6.40 a
Post-test-1.22
Control groupPre-test-0.67-0.09
Post-test--0.76
Being attracted by negative emotionsPositive therapyPre-test-6.35 a-6.10 a
Post-test-0.25
Control groupPre-test0.430.50
Post-test--0.14
Subjective assessment of distressPositive therapyPre-test-6.92 a4.65 a
Post-test-2.27
Control groupPre-test-0.16-0.30
Post-test--0.14
Adjust distress relief effortsPositive therapyPre-test-6.22 a-5.16 a
Post-test-1.06
Control groupPre-test-0.24-0.41
Post-test--0.17

The data presented in the table represent the results of the follow-up post-tests conducted for both the positive therapy group and the control group. In summary, the findings suggest that positive therapy had immediate benefits for enhancing psychological distress tolerance and emotion regulation. However, further research and longer follow-up periods are necessary to fully comprehend the sustained effects of positive therapy on these variables.

5. Discussion

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of positive therapy on coronary heart disease patients’ ability to manage their emotions and tolerate distress. The results showed that positive therapy has a meaningful impact on individuals with coronary heart disease’s ability to control their emotions and tolerate stress. The findings of this study are in line with the findings of studies by Anuri and Sardari (21), and Sapiña-Beltrán et al. (22) among others.

The use of positive-oriented psychotherapy consequently increased the average of positive strategies. It decreased the average emotional regulation in individuals with coronary heart disease in the experimental group, compared to the control group. These changes persisted in the follow-up phase, thereby bringing psychological benefits. Individuals with coronary heart disease and anxiety symptoms benefit from positive therapy to better their ability to regulate their emotions. In this sense, positivist psychology aims to increase human performance to its maximum, and by testing emotions, it achieves this goal (23). In the positive psychotherapy program, one of the most important goals is to help improve and increase individuals’ satisfaction with life, happiness, and well-being. Based on this approach, increasing capabilities, positive emotions, commitment, and meaning makes life happier and more prosperous and reduces emotional problems (24).

Positive thinking is a form of thinking that habitually seeks to get the best result from the worst situation. How individuals think about the event determines how they deal with it. Positive thinking is a way of thinking that enables a person to properly understand his/her and others’ behaviors, attitudes, feelings, interests, and talents and, by maintaining calmness and coolness, to make the best and wisest decision (25). To explain this finding, we can refer to the effect and function of positive emotions (26). Generating positive emotions in individuals, a key practice and premise of positive psychology, aims to counteract the impact of negative emotions, foster and enhance personal resources, boost psychological resilience, and promote physical well-being. It leads to psychological well-being and establishes the essential foundation for human development. Based on this approach, increasing capabilities, positive emotions, commitment, and meaning makes life happier and more prosperous and reduces emotional problems (27).

In addition, using negative strategies of cognitive emotion regulation might lead to an increase in anxiety symptoms in students by reducing positive emotions and even increasing negative emotions through ineffective strategies, such as self-blame. As has been emphasized in previous studies, the high use of negative strategies, such as mental rumination, catastrophic thinking, and blaming one and others, are associated with a high level of adverse emotional reactions, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. These strategies cause the intensification and continuation of adverse emotional reactions and cause the sufferers to face the problem with confusion and anxiety instead of an appropriate response, which harms their health (28). Therefore, positive psychology, which focuses on strengths and positive emotions, not only gives individuals the tools to reach the desired level of well-being, regardless of their circumstances, but it also enables patients to understand how to overcome problems in the best way by using hope, optimism, flexibility, interest, wisdom, and altruism, which leads to the reduction of negative strategies of cognitive emotion regulation (29, 30).

Furthermore, it was observed that positive psychological intervention had a more significant impact on individuals’ commitment and responsibility than self-compassion intervention (31). Positive psychology enhances individuals’ strengths, reinforcing commitment and responsibility. On the other hand, compassion intervention emphasizes developing affection, love, and understanding of one’s pain and suffering, recognizing them as inherent aspects of the human condition. The findings obtained from the participants with coronary heart disease indicated that the positive intervention positively influenced their sense of responsibility and commitment (32, 33).

Among the limitations of the current study, the following can be mentioned:

This study was conducted only on the population of patients with coronary heart disease at Shahid Beheshti hospital in Nowshahr, and caution should be exercised in generalizing the results to other regions and cities. The level of honesty of the respondents to the questions of the questionnaires is one of the uncontrollable limitations. The test conditions might have affected the subjects due to multiple answers to a questionnaire (pre-test and post-test). As a result, their accuracy in answering has decreased. Further research should be conducted in a wider geographical area to become more confident about the generalization of the results. Considering that this study was conducted on a community of individuals suffering from coronary heart disease, it is also suggested to be conducted in other communities. In future research, other treatment approaches should be used in comparison to this method to make it possible to compare the effectiveness of positive treatment to other approaches. In future research, the samples’ class and social base should be considered an intervening variable in the effectiveness of positive treatment. According to the present research findings, it is possible to recommend mental health professionals and individuals active in the field of health design and apply appropriate methods inspired by the positive treatment of the mental health of coronary patients. Considering the effect of positive treatment on emotion regulation, blood pressure reduction, and stress tolerance in individuals with coronary heart disease, it is suggested that psychologists use positive treatment widely in groups.

Overall, this study highlights the impact of positive therapy on emotion regulation and distress tolerance in individuals with coronary heart disease. These results indicated that positive therapy significantly improved emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and blood pressure in patients with coronary heart disease. The positive therapy group consistently exhibited better scores in these variables than the control group, suggesting the effectiveness of positive therapy in improving psychological and physiological well-being. The findings align with previous research, emphasizing the benefits of positive-oriented interventions for enhancing well-being and reducing emotional difficulties. Positive psychology interventions promoted positive emotions, resilience, and personal growth while reducing the use of negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

Acknowledgements

References

  • 1.

    Cushman M, Shay CM, Howard VJ, Jimenez MC, Lewey J, McSweeney JC, et al. Ten-Year Differences in Women's Awareness Related to Coronary Heart Disease: Results of the 2019 American Heart Association National Survey: A Special Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021;143(7):e239-48. [PubMed ID: 32954796]. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000907.

  • 2.

    Mosley JD, Gupta DK, Tan J, Yao J, Wells QS, Shaffer CM, et al. Predictive Accuracy of a Polygenic Risk Score Compared With a Clinical Risk Score for Incident Coronary Heart Disease. JAMA. 2020;323(7):627-35. [PubMed ID: 32068817]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC7042849]. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.21782.

  • 3.

    Al-Shaar L, Satija A, Wang DD, Rimm EB, Smith-Warner SA, Stampfer MJ, et al. Red meat intake and risk of coronary heart disease among US men: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2020;371:m4141. [PubMed ID: 33268459]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC8030119]. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m4141.

  • 4.

    De Hert M, Detraux J, Vancampfort D. The intriguing relationship between coronary heart disease and mental disorders. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018;20(1):31-40. [PubMed ID: 29946209]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC6016051]. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.1/mdehert.

  • 5.

    Cheng MY, Zhang RX, Wang MJ, Chang MY. Relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and coronary heart disease: an empirical examination of heart rate variability and coronary stenosis. Psychol Health. 2022;37(2):230-45. [PubMed ID: 33435727]. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2020.1859112.

  • 6.

    Swerdlow BA, Johnson SL. The Interpersonal Regulation Interaction Scale (IRIS): A multistudy investigation of receivers' retrospective evaluations of interpersonal emotion regulation interactions. Emotion. 2022;22(6):1119-36. [PubMed ID: 36006703]. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000927.

  • 7.

    Ehmann ALS, Pruessner L, Barnow S, Helm P, Bauer U. Emotion Regulation in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease. 52nd Annual Meeting of the German Society for Pediatric Cardiology. 2020.

  • 8.

    Hatamian P, Babaei A, Rasoolzadeh Tabatabaei SK. Effectiveness of Meta-cognitive Based-training on Emotion Regulation and Anxiety Sensitivity in Elderly with History of Cardiovascular Disease Living in Elderly Care Homes in Tehran City. Journal of Health and Care. 2019;21(4):319-29. https://doi.org/10.29252/jhc.21.4.319.

  • 9.

    Mohammadzadeh Ebrahimi A, Rahimi Pordanjani T, Tad H. Structural Model of Social Support and Distress Tolerance by Mental Health Mediation in Elderlies With Cardiovascular Disease. Health Research Journal. 2019;4(4):189-96. https://doi.org/10.29252/hrjbaq.4.4.189.

  • 10.

    Otto MW, Zvolensky MJ, Rosenfield D, Hoyt DL, Witkiewitz K, McKee SA, et al. A randomized controlled trial protocol for engaging distress tolerance and working memory to aid smoking cessation in low socioeconomic status (SES) adults. Health Psychol. 2020;39(9):815-25. [PubMed ID: 32833483]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC8489738]. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000858.

  • 11.

    Krause N, Ironson G, Pargament KI. Spiritual struggles and resting pulse rates: Does strong distress tolerance promote more effective coping? Personality and Individual Differences. 2016;98:261-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.064.

  • 12.

    Wersebe H, Lieb R, Meyer AH, Hofer P, Gloster AT. The link between stress, well-being, and psychological flexibility during an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy self-help intervention. Int J Clin Health Psychol. 2018;18(1):60-8. [PubMed ID: 30487911]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC6220909]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2017.09.002.

  • 13.

    Kortz TB, Herzel B, Marseille E, Kahn JG. Bubble continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of severe paediatric pneumonia in Malawi: a cost-effectiveness analysis. BMJ Open. 2017;7(7). e015344. [PubMed ID: 28698327]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC5734302]. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015344.

  • 14.

    Rashid T. Positive psychotherapy. Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer; 2020. p. 1-8.

  • 15.

    Kavian M, Panahi AA. Psychological concepts in the Quran. Qom: University District Research Institute; 2014.

  • 16.

    Twohig MP, Levin ME. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Treatment for Anxiety and Depression: A Review. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2017;40(4):751-70. [PubMed ID: 29080598]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.009.

  • 17.

    Garnefski N, Kraaij V, Spinhoven P. Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and emotional problems. Personality and Individual Differences. 2001;30(8):1311-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0191-8869(00)00113-6.

  • 18.

    Samani S, Sadeghi L. Psychometric properties of the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire. Psychological methods and models. 2010;1(1):51-62.

  • 19.

    Simons JS, Gaher RM. The Distress Tolerance Scale: Development and Validation of a Self-Report Measure. Motivation and Emotion. 2005;29(2):83-102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-005-7955-3.

  • 20.

    Alavi K, Madras GMAYSA, Salehi FJ. [Effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy in a group way (relying on the components of comprehensive consciousness, distress tolerance and emotional regulation) on depression symptoms in students]. J Principles Mental Health. 2011;3(2):124-35. Persian. https://doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v6n7p116.

  • 21.

    Anuri J, Sardari B. [The effectiveness of positive psychotherapy on improving cognitive emotion regulation strategies in students with anxiety symptoms]. Positive Psychol Res Paper. 2018;5(2):31-46. Persian.

  • 22.

    Sapina-Beltran E, Santamaria-Martos F, Benitez I, Torres G, Masa JF, Sanchez-de-la-Torre M, et al. Normotensive patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: changes in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with continuous positive airway pressure treatment. J Hypertens. 2019;37(4):720-7. [PubMed ID: 30817452]. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001934.

  • 23.

    Chakhssi F, Kraiss JT, Sommers-Spijkerman M, Bohlmeijer ET. The effect of positive psychology interventions on well-being and distress in clinical samples with psychiatric or somatic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18(1):211. [PubMed ID: 29945603]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC6020379]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1739-2.

  • 24.

    Hendriks T, Warren MA, Schotanus-Dijkstra M, Hassankhan A, Graafsma T, Bohlmeijer E, et al. How WEIRD are positive psychology interventions? A bibliometric analysis of randomized controlled trials on the science of well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2018;14(4):489-501. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1484941.

  • 25.

    McIntyre K, Gyldensted C. Constructive Journalism: An Introduction and Practical Guide for Applying Positive Psychology Techniques to News Production. The Journal of Media Innovations. 2017;4(2):20-34. https://doi.org/10.5617/jomi.v4i2.2403.

  • 26.

    Peters ML, Smeets E, Feijge M, van Breukelen G, Andersson G, Buhrman M, et al. Happy Despite Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an 8-Week Internet-delivered Positive Psychology Intervention for Enhancing Well-being in Patients With Chronic Pain. Clin J Pain. 2017;33(11):962-75. [PubMed ID: 28379873]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC5636048]. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0000000000000494.

  • 27.

    Kim H, Doiron K, Warren MA, Donaldson SI. The international landscape of positive psychology research: A systematic review. International Journal of Wellbeing. 2018;8(1):50-70. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v8i1.651.

  • 28.

    Gruman JA, Lumley MN, González-Morales M. Incorporating balance: Challenges and opportunities for positive psychology. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie canadienne. 2018;59(1):54-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000109.

  • 29.

    Green S, Palmer S. Positive Psychology Coaching in Practice. Routledge; 2018. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315716169.

  • 30.

    Shoshani A, Slone M. Positive Education for Young Children: Effects of a Positive Psychology Intervention for Preschool Children on Subjective Well Being and Learning Behaviors. Front Psychol. 2017;8:1866. [PubMed ID: 29123496]. [PubMed Central ID: PMC5662620]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01866.

  • 31.

    Chodkiewicz AR, Boyle C. Positive psychology school‐based interventions: A reflection on current success and future directions. Review of Education. 2016;5(1):60-86. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.3080.

  • 32.

    Snow NE. Positive psychology, the classification of character strengths and virtues, and issues of measurement. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 2018;14(1):20-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1528376.

  • 33.

    Haddadi A, Yazdi-Ravandi S, Moradi A, Hajaghaie E. Comparing the Resilience of the Medical Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic After Yalom Group Psychotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Group Therapy. Journal of Research & Health. 2023;13(3):227-36. https://doi.org/10.32598/jrh.13.3.1751.1.