Relationship between Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies and Mental Health among Media Professionals in Conflict Zones

Abstract

Background & Statement of the problem: According to UNESCO, the number of killed journalists has doubled in the last year compared to the previous year, and this clearly reflects the seriousness of their work and its impact on their physical and psychological health. This effect appears in their sleep pattern, concentration, mood, and so on. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and mental health, among media professionals in conflict zones. Methods: This study included 146 media professionals all participants were assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The average mean of (psychological symptoms) was calculated and was found to be 1.36 (SD = -0.167) and the means were 1.01 and 1.66 for (phobic anxiety) and (paranoid ideation) dimensions, respectively. Based on the cut-off point (1.33), most of the reported means were significantly above average, with a moderate level of psychological symptoms. The average mean was 3.39 (SD = 417) and the mean of (refocus on planning) was 2.7. As for the mean of (putting into perspective), it was 4.17. As per the cut-off point (1.33). Results: All means were above average. Most of these symptoms were in the moderate levels, the rest were at mild levels. Conclusions (Recommendations and contributions): There is a distinct relationship between cognitive emotional regulation strategies used by media professionals and the resulting psychological symptoms they demonstrate.