The present study tests the mediating role of Experiential Avoidance (EA; Hayes et al., 1996) in the relation of specific forms of coping strategies (Self Distraction, Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, and Self Blame) with Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Participants were 161 subjects recruited from the general population. Measures of EA (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, AAQII, Bond et al., submitted), coping strategies (The Brief COPE scale, Carver et al., 1989), Depression and Anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS, Zigmond & Snaith, 1983), and Alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, LSAS-SR; Liebowitz, 1987; Baker et al., 2002) were obtained from standardised, self-administered questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to test for mediational models. Results showed that coping strategies significantly predicted EA, Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Moreover, the effect of coping strategies on Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia was not significant anymore or was strongly reduced when controlling for EA scores, whereas the latter still predicted Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Findings suggest that avoidance strategies may represent the mechanism through which Self Distraction, Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, and Self Blame take on psychological significance.
Coping strategies and the mediating role of Experiential Avoidance
BERNINI, OLIVIA;BERROCAL MONTIEL, CARMEN
2009-01-01
Abstract
The present study tests the mediating role of Experiential Avoidance (EA; Hayes et al., 1996) in the relation of specific forms of coping strategies (Self Distraction, Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, and Self Blame) with Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Participants were 161 subjects recruited from the general population. Measures of EA (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, AAQII, Bond et al., submitted), coping strategies (The Brief COPE scale, Carver et al., 1989), Depression and Anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS, Zigmond & Snaith, 1983), and Alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, LSAS-SR; Liebowitz, 1987; Baker et al., 2002) were obtained from standardised, self-administered questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to test for mediational models. Results showed that coping strategies significantly predicted EA, Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Moreover, the effect of coping strategies on Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia was not significant anymore or was strongly reduced when controlling for EA scores, whereas the latter still predicted Depression, Anxiety, and Alexithymia. Findings suggest that avoidance strategies may represent the mechanism through which Self Distraction, Denial, Behavioural Disengagement, and Self Blame take on psychological significance.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
