Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Introduction</bold> Reappraisal is a core emotion regulation strategy involving the cognitive reframing of emotional situations to modify their affective impact. Although various forms of reappraisal—including positive, compassionate, religious/spiritual, and logical/rational—have been identified, their distinct associations with anxiety and depression, particularly among medical students, remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between these dimensions of psychological reappraisal and symptoms of anxiety and depression in Iranian medical sciences students. <bold>Methods</bold> This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 students from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, selected via convenience sampling. Participants completed the Five-Facet Reappraisal Questionnaire (FFRQ) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS-25. <bold>Results</bold> Significant inverse correlations were observed between most reappraisal dimensions and both anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). The strongest correlations were found for compassionate reappraisal (kindness-mindfulness) with depression (r = -0.446) and anxiety (r = -0.421), followed by positive reappraisal (r = -0.423 for depression; r = -0.356 for anxiety). Regression analyses revealed that compassionate reappraisal (kindness-mindfulness) was the strongest negative predictor for both depression (β = -0.208, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = -0.299, p < 0.001). Notably, logical/rational reappraisal did not significantly predict either outcome in the final models. <bold>Conclusion</bold> The findings highlight that adaptive reappraisal strategies, particularly compassionate reappraisal, are associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression. Teaching these skills to students could be a valuable component of mental health promotion programs in academic settings. </p>