A Study of Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Repetitive Negative Thinking, and Experiential Avoidance in Adults with Stuttering: A Comparative Study

Jafar Sarani Yaztappeh; Elahe Lorestani; Younes Zaheri; Mohsen Rezaei; Hiwa Mohammadi; Keivan Kakabraee; Moslem Rajabi; Amir Sam Kianimoghadam; Saina Fatollahzadeh; Mohamad Davood Mohebi

doi:10.18502/ijps.v19i1.14341

Jafar Sarani Yaztappeh Department of Clinical Psychology, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Elahe Lorestani Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Younes Zaheri Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohsen Rezaei Zendegi Clinic, Specialized Center of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Kermanshah, Iran.
Hiwa Mohammadi Neuroscience Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Keivan Kakabraee Department of Psychology, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran.
Moslem Rajabi Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Sam Kianimoghadam Department of Clinical Psychology, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Saina Fatollahzadeh Department of Clinical Psychology, Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohamad Davood Mohebi Department of Psychiatry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v19i1.14341

Keywords: Adults; Emotion Regulation; Negative Thinking; Speech Disorders; Stuttering

Abstract

Objective: Stuttering is a type of communication and fluency disorder that hurts mental and emotional health. It is also associated with a significant increase in both trait and social anxiety. Studies on stuttering in adults have indicated the nature and impact of this phenomenon. In addition, some psychological aspects of this phenomenon remain vague and need further investigation. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare emotion regulation difficulties, repetitive negative thinking, and experiential avoidance between people who stutter and healthy individuals.

Method: In this study, 101 people who stutter (43 females and 58 males, with a mean age of 29.55 ± 187 years), as well as 110 healthy individuals (74 females and 36 males, with a mean age of 25.57 ± 489 years) as participants were chosen using the convenience sampling method among those who referred to the speech therapy clinics of Tehran, Iran. Research instruments including the repetitive negative thinking inventory, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-I) were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using multivariate ANOVA test and Multiple Regression Analysis.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 29.55 years in the people who stutter and 25.57 years in the healthy individuals (P < 0.01). The present results indicated that the mean score of experiential avoidance was higher in the people who stutter (M ± SD: 35.74 ± 9.24) compared to the healthy individuals (M ± SD: 8.89 ± 31.11). Additionally, the mean score of emotion regulation difficulties was higher in the people who stutter (M ± SD: 88.75 ± 20.59) compared to the healthy individuals (M ± SD: 64.14 ± 94.94) (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean score of repetitive negative thinking between the people who stutter (M ± SD: 98.45 ± 25.85) and healthy individuals (M ± SD: 93.71 ± 25.24) groups (P > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between experiential avoidance and emotion regulation difficulties in people who stutter (P < 0.01). Experiential avoidance and repetitive negative thinking can significantly predict emotion regulation difficulties in people who stutter (R = 0.65, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: People who stutter obtained higher emotion regulation difficulties and experiential avoidance scores than those without stuttering and A significant correlation between experiential avoidance and emotion regulation difficulties was found. Future studies should consider the role of emotion regulation difficulties and experiential avoidance in people who stutter.