Social Cognition

In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Association of Social Psychology

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

Factor Determination and Psychometric Features of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of the psychology department, Razi University of Kermanshah

2 Assistant Professor of the psychology department, Payamnour University

3 PhD student of general psychology, Razi University of Kermanshah

4 PhD student of family counseling, Shahid Chamran University of Ahwaz

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the current research was to examine factor determination and psychometric features of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire. Method: The research design was correlational study. The population was college students and clients in psychotherapy and counseling centers in Kermanshah. The nonclinical student sample was 250 subjects selected randomly (simple) from among the students of the Razi University. Overall, the clients in psychotherapy and counseling clinics in Kermanshah were 100 persons selected by convenient sampling and completed the multidimensional experiential avoidance questionnaire, positive and negative affect schedule, acceptance and action questionnaire-second version, revised questionnaire of personality and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (for divergent validation). To analyze the data, factor analysis method, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and Pearson correlation were run by SPSS 22 and AMOS 21. Results: The result indicated that there were direct and significant relationships among experiential avoidance with negative affect, acceptance and action, negative emotion regulation strategies and neuroticism (P≤0/001). Furthermore, there was a reverse and significant relationship between positive effects and positive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation (P≤0/001). The results of discriminant validity showed that there were significant differences between two groups of clinical and nonclinical in behavioral avoidance, confusion disgust, procrastination, distraction/stop, denial, repression and distress tolerance (P≤0/001). The results from confirmatory factor analysis confirmed 44 items into 6 factors. The amounts of Goodness of fit Index (GFI), Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) were at an acceptable level. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for total of the questionnaire was 0.842, behavioral avoidance 0.891, confusion disgust 0.828, procrastination 0.794, distraction/stop 0.681, denial/repression 0.822, and for distress tolerance 0.818. Conclusion: The Persian version of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire in college students population and clinical people have the acceptable psychometric features and might be used as a valid instrument in psychological studies.

Keywords

References
- بشارت، م. ع (1387). بررسی ویژگی­های روانسنجی نسخه فارسی فهرست عواطف مثبت و منفی. گزارش پژوهشی، دانشگاه تهران.
- روشن چلسی، ر.؛ شعیری، م. ر.؛ عطری فرد، م.؛ نیکخواه، ا.؛ قائم مقامی، ب. و رحیمی راد، ا (1385)  «بررسی ویژگی­های روان سنجی پرسشنامه شخصیتی 5 عاملی نئو NEO-FFI». دانشور رفتار، 16،27-36.
-  زیمرمن، م (2013) راهنمای مصاحبه بالینی بر مبنای DSM-5، ترجمه توکلی امی تیس (1394). انتشارات ابن­سینا، تهران: چاپ اول.
- سامانی، س. و صادقی، ل (1389). «کفایت شاخص­های روان­سنجی پرسشنامه­ تنظیم شناختی هیجان». مجله روش­ها و مدل­­های روان­شناختی،1 (1)، 51-62.
- زارع، ح (1396). «اثربخشی درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد در بهبود انعطاف­پذیری و همجوشی شناختی». دو فصلنامه علمی- پژوهشی شناخت اجتماعی. 6 (1 پیاپی 11)، 121-130.
-الوندی سرابی، م.؛ زارع، ح.؛ علیپور، ا. و عرفانی، ن. (1395). «پیش­بینی تحریف­های شناختی بر اساس باورهای غیرمنطقی و همجوشی شناختی». دو فصلنامه علمی- پژوهشی شناخت اجتماعی. 5 (10)، 166-178.
-     Berkler, S. (1990). “Applications of covariance structure modeling in psychology: cause for concern?”. Psychol Bull. 107(3), 260-73.
- Bond, F. W.; Hayes, S. C.; Baer, R. A.; Carpenter,  K. M.; Guenole, N.; Orcutt, H. K.; Waltz, T. & Zettle, R. D. (2011). “Preliminary Psychometric Properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: A Revised Measure OF Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance”. Behavior Therapy. 42(4), 676-88. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007.
- Boulanger, J. L.; Hayes, S. C. & Pistorello, J. (2010). “Experiential Avoidance as a Functional Contextual Concept. In: Kring AM, Sloan DM, editors. Emotion regulation and psychopathology: a transdiagnostic approach to etiology and treatment”. New York: Guilford Press. PP. 107-36.
- Chawla, N. & Ostafin, B. (2007). “Experiential avoidance as a functional dimensional approach to psychopathology: An empirical review”. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 63 (9), 871–890.
- Eifert, G. H.; Forsyth, J. P.; Arch, J.; Espejo, E.; Keller, M. & Langer, D. (2009). “Acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety disorders: Three case studies exemplifying a unified treatment protocol”. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.16 (4), 368-85.
- Feldner, M. T.; Zvolensky, M. J.; Eifert, G. H. & Spira, A. P. (2003). “Emotional avoidance: an experimental test of individual differences and response suppression using biological challenge”. Behavior Research and Therapy, 41 (4), 403-411. doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967 (02)00020-7
- Garnefski, N. & Kraaij, V. (2007). “The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire Psychometric Features and Prospective Relationships with Depression and Anxiety in Adults”. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. 23(3), 141–149. DOI 10.1027/1015-5759.23.3.141
- Garnefski, N.; Kraaij, V. & Spinhoven, P.h. (2001). “Negative life events, cognitive emotion regulation and depression”. Personality and Individual Differences, 30 (8), 1311-1327.
- Hayes, S. C.; Wilson, K. G.; Gifford, E.V.; Follette, V.M. & Strosahl, K. (1996). “Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: a functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment”. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology. 64 (6), 1152-68.
- Hayes, S. C.; Strosahl, K. D. & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
- Hayes, S. C.; Strosahl, K.; Wilson, K.G.; Bisset, R.T.; Pistols , J.; Toarmino, D. et al. (2004). “Measuring experiential avoidance: A preliminary test of a working model”. The Psychological Record, 54 (4), 553-578. opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/tpr/vol54/iss4/5
- Hayes, S. C.; Wilson, K. G.; Gifford, E. V.; Follette, V. M. & Strosahl, K. (1996). “Experiential avoidance and behavioral disorders: A functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment”. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (6), 1152–1168.
- Hayes, S.C. (2004). “Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies”. Behavior therapy. 35(4), 639-65.
- Holden, R. R.; Starzyk, K. B.; Edwards, M. J. & Book, A. S. (2001) “Associations between the Holden psychological screening inventories in a nonclinical sample”. Psychological Reports, 88(3 Pt 2):1005-11.
- James, I. C.; Baker, C. B.; Michael, H. & Ronan, G. F. (2014). “Experiential avoidance and interpersonal problems: A moderated mediation model”. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. 3 (4), 291–298
- Joreskog, K. & Sorbom, D. (2003). LISREL 8: User's Reference Guide. Chicago: Scientific Software Inc.
- Juarascio, A.; Shaw, J.; Forman, E.; Timko, C. A.; Herbert, J.; Butryn, M.; Bunnell, D.; Matteucci, A. & Lowe, M. (2013). “Acceptance and commitment therapy as a novel treatment for eating disorders: an initial test of efficacy and mediation”. Journal of Behavior Modification. 37 (4), 459-89. doi: 10.1177/0145445513478633.
- Kampfe, C. K.; Gloster, A. T.; Wittchen, H. U.; Helbig-Lang, S.; Lang, T.; Gerlach, A. L.; Alpers, J.; Fehm, L.; Kircher, T.; Hamm, A. O.; Strohle, A. & Deckert, J. (2012). “Experiential avoidance and anxiety sensitivity in patients with panic disorder and agoraphobia: Do both constructs measure the same?”. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 12 (5), 5-22.
- Karekla, M. & Panayiotou, G. (2011). “Coping and experiential avoidance: Unique or overlapping constructs?”. Journal of Behaviot Therapy and Experiential Psychiatry, 42 (22), 163-170.
- Kashdan, T. B.; Breen, W. E.; Afram, A. & Terhar, D. (2010). “Experiential avoidance in idiographic, autobiographical memories: Construct validity and links to social anxiety, depressive, and anger symptoms”. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24 (5), 528-534.
- Kashdan, T. B.; Morina, N. & Priebe, S. (2009). “Post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and depression in survivors of the Kosovo War: Experiential avoidance as a contributor to distress and quality of life”. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23 (2), 185-196.
- Klainin-Yobas, P.; Ramirez, D.; Fernandez, Z.; Sarmiento, J.; Thanoi, W.; Ignacio, J. & Lau, Y. (2016). “Examining the predicting effect of mindfulness on psychological wellbeing among undergraduate students: A structural equation modelling approach”. Personality and Individual Differences, 91, 63–68.
- Kline, R. B. (2009). Becoming a Behavioral Science Researcher: A Guide to Producing Research that Matters. New York: Guilford.
- Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. 3rd Ed. New York: Guilford.
- Kohlenberg, R. J. & Tsai, M. (1991). Functional analytic psychotherapy: Creating intense and curative therapeutic relationships. New York, NY: Plenum Press.
- Lee, J.; Orsillo, S. M.; Roemer, L. & Allen, L. (2010). “Distress and avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: Exploring the relationships with intolerance of uncertainty and worry”. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 39 (2), 126-136.
-Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive– behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
- Martell, C. R.; Addis, M. E. & Jacobson, N. S. (2001). Depression in context: Strategies for guided action. New York, NY: Norton.
- McCrae, R.R. & Costa P.T., Jr. (1989) “Rotation to maximize the construct validity of factors in the NEO Personality Inventory”. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 24 (1), 107-124.
- Molly, M. & Dunkley, D. M. (2015). “Self-critical perfectionism and depressive symptoms: Low self-esteem and experiential avoidance as mediators”. Personality and Individual Differences, 87; 174–179.
- Monestès, J. L.; Villatte, M.; Mouras, H.; Loas, G. & Bond, F. (2009). “Traduction et validation française du questionnaire d'acceptation et d'action (AAQ-II)”. European Review of Applied Psychology, 59, 301-308.
- Scherr, S. R.; James, D. H. & Forman, E. M (2015). “The role of therapist experiential avoidance in predicting therapist preference for exposure treatment for OCD”. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 4 (1), 21-29.
- Shahar, B. & Herr, N. R. (2011). “Depressive symptoms predict inflexibly high levels of experiential avoidance in response to daily negative affect: A daily diary study”. Behavioral Research and Therapy, 49 (10), 676-681.
- Shenk, C. E.; Putnam, F. W. & Noll, J. G. (2012). “Experiential avoidance and the relationship between child maltreatment and PTSD symptoms: Preliminary evidence”. Child Abuse & Neglect, 36 (2), 118-126.
- Sloan, D. M. (2004). “Emotion regulation in action: emotional reactivity in experiential avoidance”. Behavior Research and Therapy, 42 (11), 1257-1270.
- Watson, D.; Clarke, L. A. & Tellegen, A. (1988). “Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS Scales”. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54 (6), 1063-1070.
- Wetterneck, C.T.; Lee, E, B.; Flessner, C. A.; Rachel, C.L. & Douglas. W. W. (2016). “Personality characteristics and experiential avoidance in Trichotillomania: Results from an age and gender matched sample”. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 8, 64-69.
- Zettle, R. D. (2015). “Acceptance and commitment therapy for depression”. Current Opinion in Psychology, 2, 6569.
Social Cognition
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 12
February 2018
Pages 57-82
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics