Correlation of personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with health anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed new challenges to the global health sector, causing significant psychological distress in different societies. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the correlation of personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with health anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on 200 individuals, who were selected via convenience sampling among all residents of Babol (capital of Babol County, Iran) from March to September 2020. The data collection tools included the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (2006), Personality Traits Questionnaire (1985), and Health Anxiety Inventory (2002). For data analysis, Pearson's correlation test and stepwise regression analysis were performed in SPSS version 26. Results: The multiple correlation coefficients of variables, as well as the regression coefficients of health anxiety, were significant for emotion regulation strategies and personality traits (P<0.01). The standardized beta coefficients revealed that rumination (β=0.260), catastrophizing (β=0.234), and refocus on planning (β=-0.192) could significantly predict health anxiety, respectively. Conclusion: According to the present results, personality traits and cognitive emotion regulation strategies had significant effects on the health anxiety of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recommended to implement psychological training to reinforce positive strategies for cognitive emotion regulation.