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When is experiential avoidance harmful in the moment? Examining global experiential avoidance as a moderator
Michael E Levin1, Jennifer Krafft1, Benjamin Pierce1
1Utah State University, Department of Psychology, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, United States.
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|August 7, 2018
Summary
Experiential avoidance in the moment negatively impacts mood and valued actions, especially for individuals with global avoidance patterns. This immediate effect is more pronounced in those with inflexible experiential avoidance tendencies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Mental Health Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Experiential avoidance is linked to mental health issues.
- Limited research exists on immediate experiential avoidance effects.
- Moderators of experiential avoidance harm are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate immediate effects of experiential avoidance.
- Identify moderators influencing experiential avoidance harm.
- Examine the link between momentary and global experiential avoidance.
Main Methods:
- Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study.
- 70 undergraduate students participated.
- Daily assessments over 7 days plus baseline questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Momentary and global experiential avoidance predicted negative affect and lower positive affect.
- Experiential avoidance reduced valued action.
- Global experiential avoidance moderated momentary effects.
Conclusions:
- Immediate experiential avoidance has negative consequences.
- These effects are amplified in individuals with global avoidance patterns.
- Inflexible experiential avoidance exacerbates negative outcomes.
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