Emotional Schemas, Psychological Flexibility, and Anxiety: The Role of Flexible Response Patterns to Anxious Arousal

Abstract

Recently, a number of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) process accounts of anxiety disorders have emerged that go beyond an emphasis on cognitive reappraisal or habituation (Barlow, Allen, & Choate, 2004; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2011; Leahy, Tirch, & Napolitano, 2011; Mennin, Turk, Heimberg, & Carmin, 2005). Emotional Schema Theory (Leahy, 2002; Leahy, Tirch, & Napolitano, 2011) which is the conceptual framework supporting Emotional Schema Therapy (EST) and the Psychological Flexibility Model, which is the theoretical basis of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl; & Wilson, 2011), are two such models. The current, cross-sectional study explores the relationship of emotional schemas, psychological flexibility, and mindfulness in persons with elevated anxiety as measured by the BAI (Beck & Steer, 1993) and the MCMI-III (Millon, 1997). Emotional schemas were assessed using the Leahy Emotional Schema Scale (LESS; Leahy, 2002). Psychological flexibility was measured by the Acceptance an...