Experiential Avoidance and Meaning in Life as Predictors of Valued Living: A Daily Diary Study

Abstract

Values-based interventions encourage engagement in valued living as a means to promote psychological well-being. Valued living is best operationalized as ongoing, reinforcing behavioral patterns consistent with idiographic values that facilitate psychological well-being and improved mental health. Cross-sectional research illustrates positive associations between valued living and well-being and negative associations between valued living and psychopathology. However, it is important to have an understanding of different daily-level factors that predict fluctuations in valued living. Consistent with cognitive and behavioral models, meaning may positively relate to engagement in valued living, while experiential avoidance negatively relates to valued living. To address these relationships at the daily level, we systematically examined valued living, meaning, and experiential avoidance using ecological momentary assessment across 14 days with 73 college students. Multilevel modeling supported a positive relationship between meaning (i.e., at both the within- and between-person level) and daily valued living, above and beyond the within-person effects of experiential avoidance. The results elucidate a daily link between valued living and aspects of well-being. Further, these results show that constructs commonly assessed cross-sectionally fluctuate at the daily level, which sets the stage for future research programs that examine factors promoting and inhibiting fluctuations in meaning, experiential avoidance, and valued living. These results have important implications for prevention of mental health problems and promotion of psychological well-being.