Effects of Metacognitive Training and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Couple Communication Patterns With the Mediation of Perceived Stress, Perceived Social Support, and Emotion Regulation in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Maddahi, Mohammad-ebrahim; Nikpajouh, Akbar; Khalatbari, Javad; Malihia Zakerini, Saied; Hashemi, Sara

Effects of Metacognitive Training and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Couple Communication Patterns With the Mediation of Perceived Stress, Perceived Social Support, and Emotion Regulation in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Authors

Mohammad-ebrahim Maddahi ¹

Akbar Nikpajouh ²

Javad Khalatbari ³

Saied Malihia Zakerini ⁴

Sara Hashemi ⁴

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Shahed University, TMohammad-ebrahim Maddahiehran, IR, Iran

² Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR, Iran

³ Department of Psychology, Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Mazandaran, IR, Iran

⁴ Department of Psychology, Azad University, Karaj Branch, Alborz, IR, Iran

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial risk factors have been associated with coronary heart disease (CHD). Social
support within couples’ relationships has been shown to be important to health outcomes and
adjustment to psychological and physical conditions in patients with CHD. Constructive
interactions with the family—especially within couples— can reduce the level of perceived
stress, increase perceived social support, and affect experienced emotions.
Method: This research had a pretest-posttest experimental design with 2 experimental groups and 1
control group. A sample of 45 subjects was chosen through random sampling from among
CHD patients at Rajaie Cardiovascular, Medical, and Research Center. The study population
was then divided into 2 experimental groups and 1 control group. The measurement tools of the
study were Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social
Support, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John), and Communication Pattern
Questionnaire. The data were analyzed through multivariate analysis of covariance and stepwise
regression analysis.
Results: The findings of the study indicated that metacognitive therapy and mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy had an effect on the reduction of perceived stress, increase of perceived social
support, and improvement of emotion regulation and couple communication patterns among the
CHD patients.
Conclusions: The results of the present study can help achieve the objective of reducing stress,
augmenting social support, enhancing emotion regulation and couple communication patterns,
and—in general—improving mental condition.

Keywords

Metacognitive therapy

Mindfulness

Couple communication pattern

Perceived stress

Perceived social support

Emotion regulation

Coronary heart disease