<b>Predicting Corona Stress Based on Cognitive Distortions and Basic Psychological Needs in a Sample of Iranian Women</b>

Abstract

Cognitive distortions and basic psychological needs play a significant role in the prediction and etiology of psychological injuries (Beck & Alford, 1967; Ryan, Deci, Grolnick, & LaGuardia, 2015). Therefore; a current research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of cognitive distortions and basic psychological needs in predicting stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic in a sample of Iranian women. The method of conducting this research was descriptive-correlation. All female students of Tehran constituted the statistical population of this study. Using the available sampling method; 203 female students of the Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, were selected and completed online of cognitive distortions questionnaire (Abdollahzade & Salar, 2010), Activity-Feeling States Scale (Reeve & Sickenius, 1994) and the stress subscale of the DASS-21 questionnaire (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). To check the correlation between research variables, Pearson's correlation coefficient was used, and to check the role of cognitive distortions and basic psychological needs in predicting corona stress, standard multivariate regression analysis and structural equation modeling were used. The results showed that cognitive distortions and basic psychological needs can predict women's corona stress. In other words: satisfying basic psychological needs and transforming cognitive distortions into a more rational way of thinking act as mechanisms through which the stress caused by the coronavirus pandemic can be reduced in women. Despite the limitations; the findings of this study can be useful for national health decision makers and mental health professionals during pandemics, as well as for people suffering from Corona stress.</p