Hunter Mick
Objective: Experiential avoidance (EA), the avoidance of uncomfortable cognitions and emotions, is a significant factor in the initiation and/or maintenance of a variety of maladaptive behaviors and psychopathologies. Furthermore, EA has been recognized in most therapeutic approaches as a factor in client engagement in therapy. However, measurement of EA is complicated by the diversity of its manifestations across a variety of psychopathologies. The purpose of this study was to characterize EA as a unidimensional or multidimensional construct as it applies to psychopathology and to assess its sensitivity to change during therapy.
Methods: In this study, 82 participants referred for psychological therapy at one of four mental health services completed questionnaires measuring SE, thought control, and emotion control at baseline and again at follow-up three months later.
Results: Structural equation models (SEM) were able to capture the latent variable of EA and monitor change during therapy.
Conclusions: The results suggest that EA measures are sensitive to change and also that EA is a multidimensional construct.
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