The Effect of Emotion Regulation Training Based on Dialectic Behavior Therapy on Aggression and Quality of Life in Ibn-Sina Hospital Staff, Mashhad, Iran

Background: Emotion dysregulation is related to low quality of life (QOL) and increased aggression..Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the effect of emotion regulation training based on dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) on aggression and QOL in Ibn-Sina Hospital staff in Mashhad, Iran.Method: This non-randomized quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design was performed in Ibn-Sina Hospital, Mashhad, Iran for ۱۲ months since July ۲۰۲۰. The hospital staff with the highest aggression level based on Buss and Perry’s aggression questionnaire were divided into experimental and control groups. The quality of life short form (SF-۳۶), Bass and Perry aggression questionnaires were filled out pre-test, post-test, and after one month of educational intervention. Experimental group received ۸-session emotion regulation training. The data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version ۲۲). p<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in change in role limitations due to emotional problems (from ۱۶۴.۰±۹۵.۲۲ to ۲۲۰.۵±۶۸.۶۶), energy and vitality (from ۲۱۳.۸۹±۶۶.۰۴ to ۲۴۰.۵۶±۵۰.۲۵), and social functioning (from ۱۱۵.۹۷±۴۲.۳۲ to ۱۳۱.۹۴±۳۱.۹۷) dimensions of SF-۳۶, and hostility domain (from ۱۹.۴۲±۶.۳۴ to ۱۸.۲۵±۵.۶۴) of the Bass and Perry aggression questionnaires at different periods (p<۰.۰۵). These dimensions significantly changed only in the experimental group. The effect of DBT intervention on the social functioning dimension remained significant during the one-month follow-up.Implications for Practice: As the findings of this study revealed, comprehensive intervention is needed to improve all domains of the QOL to reduce aggression in hospital staff.

Keywords:

Dialectical behavior therapy , Emotional regulations , Emotions , Quality of life