Post on 15-Dec-2015
Criterion A: Trauma exposure. Criterion B: Reexperiencing symptoms. Criterion C: Avoidance and Emotional
Numbing symptoms. Criterion D: Hyperarousal symptoms. Criterion E: Symptoms > 1 month. Criterion F: Clinically significant impairment
across areas of functioning.
An unwillingness to remain in contact with and taking steps to alter private experiences (e.g., thoughts, emotions, physiological sensations).◦ EA and PTSD (Polusny & Follette, 1995; Rosenthal, Hall, Palm,
Batten, & Follette, 2005; Tull, Gratz, Salters, & Roemer, 2004; Vujanovic,
Youngwirth, Johnson, & Zvolensky, 2009).
In PTSD literature:◦ Alexithymia (e.g., Badura, 2003; Frewen et al., 2008; Fukunishi et
al., 1996 Kosten et al., 1992; Söndergaard & Theorell, 2004; Stewart et al., 2002).
◦ Thought suppression (e.g., Mayou, Ehlers, & Bryant, 2002; Shipherd & Beck, 1999, 2005; Steil & Ehlers, 2000).
◦ Avoidant Coping (e.g., Gil, 2005; Scarpa, Haden, & Hurley,
2006).
Two components◦ Contact with present moment◦ Acceptance/Willingness
Antithetical to experiential avoidance
Hypotheses:
◦ PTSD avoidance symptom severity will be related to higher experiential avoidance and lower mindfulness.
◦ Mindfulness will predict the variance in PTSD avoidance symptom severity above and beyond that of experiential avoidance.
Measures◦ Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS; Foa,
Cashman, Jaycox, & Perry, 1997).◦ Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer,
Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer, & Toney, 2006).◦ Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ; Hayes at al.,
2004). ◦ Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20; Bagby, Parker, &
Taylor, 1994a, 1994b).◦ White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI; Wegner &
Zanakos, 1994). ◦ Coping in Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker,
1994).
Participants◦ 378 Introductory Psychology students.
PTSD (n = 44); trauma-no PTSD (n = 147); control (n = 123)
PSS group (n = 191)
Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficients for PDS PSS Sample___________________________________________________________Measures PDS Avoidance___________________________________________________________FFMQ Observe .05FFMQ Describe -.18*FFMQ Act -.32**FFMQ Nonjudge -.37**FFMQ Nonreact -.20**AAQ .34**WBSI .42**TAS Factor 1 .48**TAS Factor 2 .32**TAS Factor 3 .05CISS Emotion .39**CISS Avoidance -.03_____________________________________________________________* p < .05, ** p < .01
The AAQ and FFMQ.◦ AAQ [p < .01, adjusted R² = .11] ◦ AAQ and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .17]
The TAS-20 Factors 1 and FFMQ.◦ TAS-20 Factor 1 (identify feelings) [p < .01, adjusted R² =
.23] ◦ TAS and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .25]
The WBSI and FFMQ.◦ WBSI [p < .01, adjusted R² = .18] ◦ WBSI and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .21]
The CISS emotional coping and FFMQ.◦ CISS emotion oriented [p < .01, adjusted R² = .15] ◦ CISS and FFMQ: [p < .01; adjusted R² = .19]
PTSD avoidance symptoms were positively correlated with measures of experiential avoidance and negatively correlated with mindfulness.
Mindfulness—particularly, acceptance or nonjudgment of experience—predicted additional variance above and beyond experiential avoidance.