Abstract
Predictors of worrying and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) were compared. First, variables related to a version of inner experience were examined. Specifically, we examined whether negative appraisals about worrying and emotions can be considered subfacets of the overarching construct of experiential avoidance. Second, we examined the relative predictive power of responsibility to continue thinking (i.e., beliefs about the need for prolonged thinking about stressful problems), a construct relating worrying to problem-solving. In two studies, consistent predictors of worrying and GAD were negative metacognitive beliefs, fear of emotions, and responsibility to continue thinking, even after controlling for neuroticism in Study 2. Experiential avoidance did not explain the independent variance in worry. The structural equation model that experiential avoidance explained negative appraisals about worrying and emotions did not fit the data well. Negative metacognitive beliefs evidenced strong predictive power, therefore, requiring particular attention in treatment. Nonetheless, fear of emotions and perceived need for perseverative thinking are candidate additional components that deserve continued investigation.
Highlights
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a debilitating condition that is often resistant to treatment
We examined whether negative appraisals about worrying and emotions can be considered subfacets of the overarching construct of experiential avoidance
Consistent findings emerged from a discriminant function analysis (DFA), where negative metacognitive beliefs were most strongly related to the discriminant function, followed by fear of anxiety
Summary
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a debilitating condition that is often resistant to treatment. A review conducted by Behar, DiMarco, Mohlman, & Staples (2009) discussed the avoidance model, the intolerance of uncertainty model, metacognitive model, emotion dysregulation model, and acceptance-based model of GAD. These models are all multi-faceted, each taking into consideration multiple predictors in the etiology of GAD. Behar et al reported that these models all share a common focus: the avoidance of inner experiences as at least one of the etiological factors of GAD. The study reported here addressed two theoretical questions about interrelationships among the predictors of GAD: the relative predictive power of factors reflecting the aversion of inner experiences and the relative predictive power of factors related to problem-solving
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