Relationship between Distress Tolerance and Coping Strategies in Women with Low Levels of Physical Activity: The Mediating Role of Mindfulness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran.

3 Department of Psychology, Ashtian Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ashtian, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the goodness-of-fit of a structural model predicting emotional distress tolerance based on coping strategies in women with low levels of physical activity, with the mediating role of mindfulness.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. The study population consisted of mothers of children with disabilities and low levels of physical activity who referred to welfare centers in Qom city during the summer of 2021. Using convenience sampling, 200 participants were selected. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simmons & Gaher, 2005), the Coping Strategies Questionnaire by Folkman and Lazarus (1985), and the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory–Short Form developed by Walach et al. (2006). Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling (SEM) through SPSS version 26 and AMOS version 22.
Results: The findings indicated that in mothers with low levels of physical activity and a child with a disability, coping strategies exert an indirect effect on emotional distress tolerance through mindfulness. Furthermore, problem-focused coping had a significant positive direct effect, while emotion-focused coping had a significant negative direct effect on distress tolerance.
Conclusion: The results demonstrated that coping strategies significantly predict distress tolerance, and mindfulness plays an effective mediating role in this relationship. Furthermore, the findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity among mothers of children with disabilities as a supportive factor in improving emotion regulation and enhancing distress tolerance. The study highlights the need for interventions that foster adaptive coping and mindfulness to bolster resilience in this population.
 

Keywords

References

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Sports Psychology
Volume 16, Issue 1
2024
Pages 324-340

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