Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Casualties Referred to the Emergency Department of Imam Reza Hospital in Birjand, Iran, in 2020: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Non-fatal injuries resulting from road accidents present a significant public health challenge, with profound physical, psychological, and economic consequences for individuals.Given the importance of emotional regulation in post-accident recovery, examining this aspect among accident victims is essential.This study aimed to investigate and compare cognitive emotion regulation strategies between individuals injured in road accidents and a healthy control group.Methods: A total of 120 individuals participated in this cross-sectional study, which included 60 accident victims referred to the Emergency Department of Imam Reza Hospital in Birjand, Iran, and 60 healthy individuals in 2020.Data were collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski, 2002).Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 16) and t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results:The findings revealed that the mean scores for acceptance (P=0.003) and putting into perspective (P=0.04) were significantly higher among accident victims compared to the healthy control group.However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of positive refocusing, self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing, refocusing on planning, and positive reappraisal (P>0.05).Among accident victims, self -blame scores were significantly higher in men compared to women (P=0.02), while in the healthy group, positive refocusing scores were significantly higher in men than women (P=0.04). Conclusion:The results of this study underscore the importance of enhancing positive cognitive emotion regulation strategies as a key component in intervention and educational programs for accident victims.Strengthening these strategies may contribute to improved emotional resilience and recovery following road accidents.