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

摘要

This cross-sectional study investigated the mediatory role of experiential avoidance in the relationshipbetween perceived stress and alexithymia with mental health. We enrolled 440 students (age 18–30 years) atKermanshah University of Medical Sciences through stratified random sampling method. The study tools weredemographic checklist, GHQ-28, Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and Perceived Stress Scale. Data were analysed bySPSS-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, andalexithymia and mental health problems (P < 0.001). SEM showed that the relationship between perceived stressand mental health problems by experiential avoidance was 0.19 [(β = 0.19; standard error (SE) = 0.09; P = 0.001], andthe relationship between alexithymia and mental health problems through experiential avoidance was 0.09 (β =0.09; SE = 0.43; P = 0.01). The mediatory role of experiential avoidance was confirmed in such a way that the effectsof alexithymia and perceived stress decreased.