Psychology

The roles of cognitive flexibility and experiential avoidance in explaining psychological distress in survivors of interpersonal victimization

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The long-term negative psychological consequences associated with interpersonal victimization are significant; however a history of interpersonal victimization alone does not necessarily lead to greater long-term psychological distress. The current study examined the relationship between cognitive flexibility, experiential avoidance, and psychological distress among 92 women who reported a history of interpersonal victimization. The findings indicate that both cognitive flexibility and experiential avoidance are significantly related to posttraumatic stress symptomology and depression in this sample. Preliminary evidence is also presented suggesting experiential avoidance maybe a potential mediator between cognitive flexibility and psychological distress in this sample. The current findings suggest that treatments targeting greater emotional acceptance and mindfulness might be useful approaches in working with survivors of interpersonal victimization. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Publication Title

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment

Publication Date

2011

Volume

33

Issue

1

First Page

79

Last Page

86

ISSN

0882-2689

DOI

10.1007/s10862-010-9201-x

Keywords

cognitive flexibility, experiential avoidance, interpersonal victimization

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