Measuring Experiential Avoidance: A Preliminary Test of a Working Model.

The present study describes the development of a short, general measure of experiential avoidance, based on a specific theoretical approach to this process. A theoretically driven iterative exploratory analysis using structural equation modeling on data from a clinical sample yielded a single factor...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological Record Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 553 - 579
Main Authors: Hayes, Steven C., Strosahl, Kirk, Wilson, Kelly G.
Format: Article
Published: Psychological Record Fall2004
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=507938886&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ssf
    uiTerm: 507938886
    longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00332933
        PSD
      jtl: Psychological Record
      issn: 00332933
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Fall2004
      vid: 54
      iid: 4
      pid: 761
      pub: Psychological Record
    artinfo:
      ui: 507938886
      ppf: 553
      ppct: 26
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 4.9MB
      tig:
        atl: Measuring Experiential Avoidance: A Preliminary Test of a Working Model.
      aug:
        au:
          Hayes, Steven C.
          Strosahl, Kirk
          Wilson, Kelly G.
      su:
        Factor analysis
        Avoidance (Psychology)
        Test design
      sug:
        subj:
          Factor analysis
          Avoidance (Psychology)
          Test design
      ab: The present study describes the development of a short, general measure of experiential avoidance, based on a specific theoretical approach to this process. A theoretically driven iterative exploratory analysis using structural equation modeling on data from a clinical sample yielded a single factor comprising 9 items. A fully confirmatory factor analysis upheld this same 9-item factor in an independent clinical sample. The operational characteristics of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ) were then examined in 8 additional samples. All totaled, over 2,400 participants were studied. As expected, higher levels of experiential avoidance were associated with higher levels of general psychopathology, depression, anxiety, a variety of specific fears, trauma, and a lower quality of life. The AAQ related to more specific measures of avoidant coping and to self-deceptive positivity, but the relation to psychopathology could not be fully accounted for by these alternative measures. The data provide some initial support for the model of experiential avoidance based on Relational Frame Theory that is incorporated into Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and provides researchers with a preliminary measure for use in population-based studies on experiential avoidance. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: N
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N