Avoidance Questionnaire Research Articles

The Machiavellian Approach and Avoidance Questionnaire: Further Validation and Evidence of Cross-National Validity

Researchers on antagonistic personality traits debate about an appropriate measurement approach to Machiavellianism. One measure intended to resolve this discourse, the Machiavellian Approach and Avoidance Questionnaire (MAAQ), distinguishes motivational aspects of Machiavellianism (https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001069). Machiavellian Approach reflects strategic striving for advantages (even at others’ expense), and Machiavellian Avoidance encompasses misanthropically driven prevention of loss. Using two German samples (n total = 1,583; 63% women), evidence from our first study confirmed assumed relations between both facets and disagreeableness, as well as Machiavellian approach with dominance seeking, and Machiavellian avoidance with mistrust. However, the nomological networks of Machiavellian approach and measures of subclinical psychopathy were almost identical in both samples. Thus, the MAAQ failed to sufficiently differentiate from subclinical psychopathy. In a second study, partial scalar cross-national invariance was established across samples from Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, and Serbia (n total = 1,853). Thereby, participants from Germany scored lower in Machiavellian approach compared to other samples, lower in Machiavellian avoidance compared to samples from the United Kingdom and Canada, but higher compared to the Serbian sample. Overall, findings supported cross-national equivalence of the MAAQ but undermined construct validity.

Prediction of borderline personality disorder based on childhood trauma with the mediating role of experiential avoidance.

Traits of borderline personality disorder are important for the determination of the prognosis of mental illnesses and in evaluating risks of negativity as well as impulsivity. But, there is a lack of information about the distribution characteristics of borderline personality disorder traits and symptoms within clinical groups. The goal of the current study was to predict borderline personality disorder based on childhood trauma, using experiential avoidance as a mediator. All male patients hospitalized in local psychiatric health centers with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder comprised the statistical population of the current study. The number of 60 patients were selected by the purposeful sampling method. The questionnaire included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (AAQ-II), and the Borderline Personality Disorder Symptoms (BSL-23). The results demonstrated that there is a considerable and positive relationship between childhood trauma and experiential avoidance (r = 0.711, p< 0.01). In the mediating model, childhood trauma had significant direct predictive effects on borderline personality disorder (β = 0.546, p< 0.01). Also, between childhood trauma and BPD, experienced avoidance acts as a moderating factor. (β = 0.304, p< 0.01).

Contrast Avoidance and Anxiety Sensitivity Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Psychological Distress in Young Adulthood.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with elevated depression and anxiety in young adulthood; however, there is a dearth of research identifying the intermediary pathways that link CM to these phenomena. The present study investigated two psychological factors-contrast avoidance, sensitivity to and avoidance of sudden negative emotional shifts, and anxiety sensitivity, the fear of arousal-related body sensations-as potential mediators of the relationship between CM and psychological distress in young adulthood. Our sample consisted of 280 undergraduate students who completed self-report measures of childhood maltreatment, anxiety sensitivity, contrast avoidance (i.e., the Contrast Avoidance Questionnaire), and psychological distress. We constructed a series of parallel mediation models to test whether contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity mediate the relationships between child maltreatment and psychological distress. CM was related to anxiety and stress indirectly through both contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity but was related to depression only through contrast avoidance. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the indirect effects between contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity for the models predicting anxiety and stress. Contrast avoidance and anxiety sensitivity both appear to play important roles in understanding how early experiences of CM relate to psychological distress in young adulthood. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Test-Retest Reliability of the STRAQ-1: A Registered Report

This Registered Report provides the first test of measurement invariance across time points and estimates of test-retest reliability for the Social Thermoregulation, Risk Avoidance Questionnaire (STRAQ-1, Vergara et al., 2019). The scale was developed and validated to understand the physiological drives underlying interpersonal bonding, measured by four constructs: the desire to socially regulate one’s temperature, the desire to solitary regulate one’s temperature, the sensitivity to higher temperatures, and the desire to avoid risk. Previous studies with large samples across 12 countries showed that the STRAQ-1 has a stable factorial structure, satisfying internal consistencies for the temperature subscales, and expected correlations in its nomological network. However, to date, this instrument has no estimates of test-retest reliability. Throughout four academic years (from 2018 to 2022), N = 183 French student participants took the STRAQ-1 at least two times. Out of the four STRAQ-1 subscales, only two were longitudinally invariant across two-time points. Thus, half of the STRAQ-1 constructs and latent scores were dissimilar and incomparable across time. We then conducted test-retest reliability using Intra Class Correlation coefficient (ICC) for the Social Thermoregulation, Solitary Thermoregulation, High-Temperature Sensitivity, and Risk Avoidance subscales. ICCs estimates were respectively for agreement and consistency: .70, .70 overall moderate to good, .62, .62 overall moderate, .67, .67 overall moderate, and .53, .53 overall poor to moderate, respectively. Our study suggests that test-retest reliability was insufficient for psychological diagnosis, and that future studies should address the problem of low generalizability of the constructs.

The Effectiveness of Paradoxical Time Table Technique on Negative Automatic Thoughts, Cognitive Avoidance and Fear of Evaluating Others in People with Social Anxiety Disorder

Background: Social anxiety disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by constant fear and avoidance of social situations due to fear of evaluation. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of paradoxical time table technique on negative automatic thoughts, cognitive avoidance and fear of evaluating others in people with social anxiety disorder. Methods: The current research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all people with social anxiety disorder (50 people) who referred to Derakhshan counseling center in Babolsar city in 2021. The sample included 30 patients who were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two experimental groups (15 people) and control group (15 people). To collect data, ATQ negative automatic thoughts questionnaire, Sexton &amp; Dugas CAQ cognitive avoidance questionnaire and Watson &amp; Friend fear evaluation questionnaire were used. Research data was analyzed using SPSS-23 software. Results: The results of the analysis showed that the paradoxical timetable technique was significantly effective on negative automatic thoughts, cognitive avoidance and fear of evaluation by others (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this research can be used in the treatment of negative automatic thoughts, cognitive avoidance and fear of evaluation by others in people with social anxiety disorder.

Latent structure, measurement invariance, and further validation of an Arabic version of the brief experiential avoidance questionnaire

Experiential avoidance (EA) is a key construct in psychopathology research and practice. Thus, various measures were constructed to assess it, including the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ). Nevertheless, an Arabic version of the BEAQ has yet to be available, a demand that this study was conducted to fulfill. An Arabic version (BEAQ-A) was developed and tested psychometrically using data from 599 Saudi participants who completed the measures online (Mage = 28.93, ± 8.35, 65.9 % women). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses uncovered a 14-item hierarchical structure that comprised one second-order factor and three first-order factors: Perceived Avoidance (PA; 10 items), Procrastination (Proc.; 2 items), and Repression/Denial (RD; 2 items). Utilizing further data from a second sample that completed a paper and pencil (PP) version (N=324, Mage = 22.09, ± 3.92, 56.2 % women), this structure appeared to be partially invariant across modes of administration and gender. The Proc. and R/D loaded significantly, along with psychological distress and negative affectivity items, on the same factor in an EFA, thereby undermining their discriminant validity. All subscales demonstrated good internal consistency reliability. The R/D and BEAQ-A total scores were unique predictors of psychological inflexibility and negative affect. In contrast, depressive and anxiety symptoms, positive affect, and well-being were predicted by Proc. and R/D. In general, findings supported the psychometric suitability of BEAQ-A. However, further research is warranted to replicate findings in larger samples and examine the measure's clinical utility.

Study protocol for "Psilocybin in patients with fibromyalgia: brain biomarkers of action".

Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Fibromyalgia is a particularly debilitating form of widespread chronic pain. Fibromyalgia remains poorly understood, and treatment options are limited or moderately effective at best. Here, we present a protocol for a mechanistic study investigating the effects of psychedelic-assisted-therapy in a fibromyalgia population. The principal focus of this trial is the central mechanism(s) of psilocybin-therapy i.e., in the brain and on associated mental schemata, primarily captured by electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of the acute psychedelic state, plus pre and post Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Twenty participants with fibromyalgia will complete 8 study visits over 8 weeks. This will include two dosing sessions where participants will receive psilocybin at least once, with doses varying up to 25mg. Our primary outcomes are 1) Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZc) recorded acutely using EEG, and the 2) the (Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ) measured at baseline and primary endpoint. Secondary outcomes will aim to capture broad aspects of the pain experience and related features through neuroimaging, self-report measures, behavioural paradigms, and qualitative interviews. Pain Symptomatology will be measured using the Brief Pain Inventory Interference Subscale (BPI-IS), physical and mental health-related function will be measured using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Further neurobiological investigations will include functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (changes from baseline to primary endpoint), and acute changes in pre- vs post-acute spontaneous brain activity - plus event-related potential functional plasticity markers, captured via EEG. The results of this study will provide valuable insight into the brain mechanisms involved in the action of psilocybin-therapy for fibromyalgia with potential implications for the therapeutic action of psychedelic-therapy more broadly. It will also deliver essential data to inform the design of a potential subsequent RCT.

Photophobia and Visual Triggers in Vestibular Migraine.

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a prevalent vestibular disorder characterized by episodic vertigo. However, the relationship between photophobia and visual triggers in VM remains unexplored. We investigated the correlation of photophobia during the VM attack with interictal photosensitivity and visually triggering dizziness in patients with VM. We enrolled patients diagnosed with VM, with or without photophobia, across seven specialized vertigo and headache clinics in China. Healthy individuals were also included as a control group. Using a cross-sectional survey design, we collected data related to light intensity and dizziness frequency triggered by flicker, glare, and eyestrain using the Headache Triggers Sensitivity and Avoidance Questionnaire. A total of 366 patients were recruited. The photosensitivity and frequency of dizziness induced by flicker, glare, and eyestrain observed in patients with VM and photophobia were significantly elevated compared with those in patients without photophobia and control participants (P < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was observed between photosensitivity levels and dizziness frequency triggered by flicker, glare, and eyestrain in patients with VM and photophobia (P < 0.001). This study unequivocally established a positive association of ictal photophobia with interictal photosensitivity and visually triggering dizziness, strongly advocating the need for further research on exposure-based therapies for managing VM. ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier, NCT04939922, retrospectively registered, 14th June 2021.

Comparison of health promotion lifestyle, metacognitive beliefs, cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and emotion regulation in couples with emotional divorce and normal couplescopules

Introduction: One of the important factors of psychological dysfunction in families is the conflict resulting from emotional divorce. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of health-promoting lifestyle, metacognitive beliefs, cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and emotional regulation on couples with emotional divorce and normal couples. Method: The current comparative causal research was conducted on 88 married students of the Islamic Azad University of Qom, who were selected by the convenience sampling method, (44 subjects with emotional divorce and 44 normal subjects). The research tools were Health Promotion Questionnaire developed by Walker et al. [1987], Emotional Divorce prepared by Gutman et al. [2001], Metacognitive Beliefs made by Wells and Cartwright Hutton [2004], Cognitive Fusion prepared by Gillands et al. [2010], Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire developed by Gams et al. in 2011, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire made by Gross and John in 2003. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance in SPSS software (version 27). Results: The results showed that couples with emotional divorce had different levels of health-promoting lifestyle (P=0.000, F=19.74), metacognitive beliefs (P=0.000, F=31.74), cognitive fusion (P=0.000, F=16.28), and experiential avoidance (P=0.000, F=19.31), compared to normal couples. Moreover, couples with emotional divorce used a more non-adaptive strategy (Fronshani, P=0.001, F=12/43) to regulate emotion in comparison with normal couples. Conclusion: The results indicated the difference in research variables between couples with emotional divorce and normal couples. Therefore, psychological health screening is suggested to prevent small levels of psychological problems in the sample group

Adolescent Athletes with Stronger Athletic Identity Perceptions Have Weaker Fear Avoidance Perceptions During Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Return to Sports Preparation.

Adolescent athletes who sustain a musculoskeletal sports injury are at high re-injury risk. This prospective study evaluated athletic identity perception and fear avoidance perception relationships during the return to sport preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation. From 140 consecutive physical therapy outpatients, 50 (26 females, 24 males) adolescent athletes (mean age 16.8, range 14 to 22 y) completed the 7-item Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS), the 10-item Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), and the AFAQ with 2 additional movement-related fear and pain questions (AFAQ+). Correlational analysis was performed of overall AIMS and AIMS subscale scores (social identity, exclusivity, negative affectivity), with AFAQ and AFAQ+ scores ( P ≤0.05). Adolescent athletes were receiving treatment for musculoskeletal injuries sustained during soccer (n=10), lacrosse (n=7), baseball (n=6), basketball (n=5), volleyball (n=5), track or cross country (n=4), American football (n=4), field hockey or ice hockey (n=3), softball (n=2), tennis (n=2), and gymnastics (n=2). Lower extremity conditions included anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (n=23) or other lower extremity conditions (n=17). Upper extremity conditions included shoulder dislocation or labral repair (n=6), elbow sprain or fracture (n=3), and clavicle fracture (n=1). The AIMS score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ ( r =-0.40, P =0.008) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.41, P <0.004) scores. The "social identity" AIMS subscale score displayed a moderate inverse relationship with AFAQ ( r =- 0.48, P <0.001) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.46, P =0.001) scores. The "exclusivity" AIMS subscale score displayed moderate inverse relationships with AFAQ ( r =-0.40, P =0.005) and AFAQ+ ( r =-0.46, P =0.001) scores. The "negative affectivity" subscale did not display significant relationships with AFAQ or AFAQ+ scores. Subject age displayed moderate inverse relationships with the AIMS "social identity" ( r =-0.56, P <0.001) and "exclusivity" ( r =-0.42, P =0.004) subscale scores and weak direct relationships with AFAQ (r=0.30, P =0.04) and AFAQ+ (r=0.32, P =0.02) scores. Adolescent athletes with stronger athletic identity perceptions during the return to the sports preparation phase of musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation had weaker fear avoidance perceptions. As age increased from early to late adolescence, athletic identity perceptions became weaker, and fear avoidance perceptions became stronger. To decrease re-injury rates, early identification and surveillance of injured adolescent athletes with stronger, more exclusive athletic identity perceptions and weaker fear avoidance perceptions may influence rehabilitation progression and return to play decisions. Level-II, prospective cohort, correlational study.

SLEEP QUALITY AND AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN COMBATANTS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Introduction. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often characterized by various symptoms that result in behavioral changes in patients, among which sleep disturbances and avoidant behavior are commonly observed. However, despite evidence indicating a complex bilateral relationship between emotions and sleep, only few studies have explored the associations between sleep disturbances and avoidant behavior in the context of PTSD. The aim of the study is to assess the severity of avoidant behaviour and insomnia in combatants with posttraumatic stress disorder. Materials and methods. We conducted a clinical study of 45 combatants who were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=24) included combatants with PTSD; group 2 (n=21) consisted of combatants without PTSD. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire was used to analyse sleep quality, namely subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, sleep medication use, and daily dysfunction. Avoidance behavior was measured using a multidimensional experience avoidance questionnaire. Results. We found that group 1 demonstrated worse subjective sleep quality (p=0.002), longer sleep latency (p&lt;0.001), lower sleep efficiency (p=0.019) and more severe sleep disturbances (p&lt;0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of sleep duration, severity of sleeping pills use, and daily dysfunction. The overall severity of sleep quality disorders was higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p&lt;0.001). Avoidance behavior (p=0.007) and repression and denial (p&lt;0.001) were more pronounced in group 1 compared to group 2. At the same time, group 1 had lower stress endurance (p&lt;0.001). The overall level of experiental avoidance in group 1 was higher than in group 2 (p&lt;0.001). Numerous associations between sleep quality characteristics and experiental avoidance were found as well. Conclusions. The study has revealed that combatants with PTSD have more pronounced manifestations of behavioural avoidance, repression and denial, as well as a lower level of stress endurance. At the same time, combatants with PTSD demonstrate a deterioration in the subjective quality of sleep, a decrease in its effectiveness and an increase in the severity of its disturbances. It has been found that avoidance behavior in combatants has numerous connections with the characteristics of sleep quality that may be suggested as a potential factor for improving psychotherapeutic interventions.

Enhancing Relapse Prevention: Examining the Impact of Experiential Avoidance, Integrative Self-Knowledge, and Basic Psychological Needs in Substance Use Treatment.

The harmful effects of drug relapse have always been one of the major challenges in addiction treatment. The present study aimed to predict drug relapse in addicted men under treatment based on experiential avoidance, integrative self-knowledge, and basic psychological needs. The present study was a correlational one. The statistical population included all addicted men in Choubindar prison in Qazvin in 2021, among whom 200 individuals were selected randomly. Then, the participants filled out the Relapse Prediction Scale (RPS), Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ), Integrative Self-Knowledge Scale (ISK), and Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS). Data were analyzed using stepwise regression via SPSS software (version 25). The results of the study demonstrated that some of the components of experiential avoidance including distraction, distress endurance, behavioral avoidance, and distress aversion could account for 14.0% of the variance of the relapse in the addicts (P<0.05). Moreover, the obtained results considering the reflective self-knowledge component and the overall score of integrative self-knowledge could explain 15.0% of the variance in relapse in the addicts. Among the basic psychological needs, communication could predict 3.8% of the variance in relapse. Based on the results of the present study, it is suggested that through addiction treatment and prevention of relapse programs, psychologists reduce drug relapse in addicts by decreasing distractions and behavioral avoidance, increasing distress endurance, enhancing self-knowledge, and improving efficient relationships.

Athlete Fear Avoidance, Depression, and Anxiety Are Associated with Acute Concussion Symptoms in Athletes.

Background: Assessing sport-related concussions in athletes presents challenges due to symptom variability. This study aimed to explore the relationship between acute concussion symptoms and athlete fear avoidance, pain catastrophizing, depression, and anxiety. Anxiety and depression have previously been associated with the number of symptoms after a concussion, but no prior research has examined the possible link between athlete fear avoidance and acute concussion symptoms. Methods: Thirty-four collegiate athletes (mean age = 20.9 ± 1.8 years) were assessed within 48 h of a concussion using the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5, Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ), Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Results showed a significant association between the athlete fear avoidance and the number of concussion symptoms (r = 0.493, p = 0.003), as well as depression and anxiety measured by HADS (r = 0.686, p < 0.001). Athlete fear avoidance and HADS scores were predictors of symptom severity, explaining 41% of the variance (p = 0.001). Athletes with higher fear avoidance tended to report more symptoms post concussion. Conclusions: This study underscores the link between athlete fear avoidance, anxiety, depression, and the severity of concussion symptoms. Administering the AFAQ to assess athlete fear avoidance at the initial assessment of a concussion may be helpful in interpreting the symptoms of an acute concussion.

Body Image Avoidance, Fear of Intimacy, and Social Avoidance Among Young Adults

The study aimed to inspect the relationship between body image avoidance, fear of intimacy and social avoidance among young adults. The sample population included 200 participants (100 males, 100 females) aged between 18 to 25 years. Scales utilised for the study included the body image avoidance questionnaire (Rosen et al., 1991), fear of intimacy scale (Carol J. Descutner &amp; Mark H. Thelen. 1991), and the social avoidance and distress scale (Watson, D. &amp; Friend, R. 1969). Statistical analysis included Spearman correlation, linear regression and Mann Whitney U test. The results suggested a strong correlation of body image avoidance with fear of intimacy (p﹤0.05) and social avoidance (p﹤0.05). Regression analysis revealed strong influence of body image avoidance on fear of intimacy (p﹤0.05) and social avoidance (p﹤0.05). Gender difference study’s findings revealed there was a significant difference in body image avoidance but not in fear of intimacy and social avoidance. Mean values predicted a higher body image avoidance and fear of intimacy level among men when compared to women. Whereas social avoidance is found to be higher among women than in men.

An Exploration of Low Back Beliefs of Male Pre-Professional and Professional Dancers.

Globally, male dancers are affected by low back pain (LBP) up to 2.5 times more than female dancers. While female dancers' beliefs around LBP and dance-specific low back movements exist, no research has explored male dancers' beliefs. This study aimed to (1) examine the low back beliefs of Australian male professional and pre-professional dancers, and (2) determine if beliefs toward common low back movements and lifting differed when current LBP or history of disabling LBP (DLBP) were considered. 40 male dancers (mean age [SD] 26.9 years [7.9]) from a range of dance backgrounds (all participating in ballet) were recruited to complete a cross-sectional survey comprising a beliefs questionnaire considering dance-specific movement and lifting tasks, the Back Pain Attitudes Questionnaire (Back-PAQ) and the Athletic Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ). Primary analysis included initial descriptives, a repeated measures ANOVA for movement-specific beliefs and visual thematic analysis for written responses within the belief's questionnaire. Secondary subgroup analysis included independent T-tests for those with/without current LBP and those with/without a history of DLBP. Fourteen dancers reported current LBP and 30 reported a history of DLBP. Dancers held generally negative beliefs toward the low back (Back-PAQ mean 123.1 ± 9.7) with neither subgroup demonstrating significant between-group difference (P < .05). Dance-specific flexion movements were seen as safer than extension movements (P < .05), and more extended-spine lifting was seen as safer than more flexed-spine lifting (P < .05). Dancers experiencing current LBP held less positive beliefs surrounding some dance-specific movements. Dancers hold negative general beliefs toward the low back irrespective of current or historical DLBP, however their beliefs surrounding dance-specific movements were relatively positive. Dancers' beliefs surrounding some movements were affected by the presence of current LBP, in particular an arabesque and a fish dive.

Untangling the link between experiential avoidance and non-suicidal self-injury: a multidimensional approach

ABSTRACT Objective Experiential avoidance, an individual’s unwillingness to experience uncomfortable internal feelings/emotions, has been found to be associated with history of self-injury. This association is mainly found in studies that use global measures of experiential avoidance. However, experiential avoidance is purported to be a multidimensional construct. This study aims to test both unidimensional and multidimensional measures of experiential avoidance and their associations with self-injury. Method University students (n = 632, M = 25.01, SD = 7.13, 78.8% female, 70.9% with lived experience of self-injury) completed well-validated self-report measures of self-injury, experiential avoidance (The Brief and the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire). Results As expected, all sub-scales of multidimensional measure of experiential avoidance were highly correlated with the global score for experiential avoidance. The global measure of experiential avoidance differentiated individuals with no history, with past history, and recent history of self-injury. When assessed using the multidimensional measure, only the sub-factors behavioural avoidance and repression and denial differentiated those with no history of self-injury from those with recent history and those with recent history from those with past history of self-injury. Conclusion Findings raise the possibility that associations between experiential avoidance and self-injury may be down to two specific aspects of experiential avoidance, namely 1) behavioural avoidance and 2) repression/denial. If true, this will have important theoretical, clinical, and measurement implications for research into self-injury.

The influence of psychological readiness of athletes when returning to sport after injury.

Injuries are a common occurrence in sports participation; however, they have the potential to be accompanied by negative thoughts and feelings, which may play a part in the athletes' state of mind when they return to their sport. Assessing the degree to which this occurs provides an opportunity to evaluate and address athletes' state of mind before their return to play. To determine if athletes are psychologically ready to return to play after an injury and if there are differences in fear avoidance behaviour between those who were and were not ready to return. Eighty-eight athletes participated in this descriptive survey. Athletes' confidence to return to play was measured by the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Play (I-PRRS) questionnaire and their fear avoidance was measured by the Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ). Fifty injured athletes with a mean age of 23.3±4.0 years old responded to the I-PRRS and the AFAQ questionnaires. The average I-PRRS score was 46.5±9.1 AU. The evidence suggests that 60% of the athletes were not ready to return to sport (41.0±7.5 AU), whereas 40% were ready to return (54.8±3.1 AU). The difference in scores was not significant. The relationship between the AFAQ scores and the I-PRRS score for the 'ready' and 'not ready' groups was not significant (p=0.066). The mean AFAQ score (26.1±8.6 AU) for the 'not ready' group is marginally greater than the mean AFAQ score (21.6±7.5 AU) for the 'ready' group. There was a negative correlation between psychological readiness to return to sport and athletic fear avoidance (r =-0.508, p<0.001). There needs to be a greater utilisation of psychological assessment tools like the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Play (I-PRRS) questionnaire, which can assist the athlete's support team, who can help identify athletes who are apprehensive about returning to sport after injury.

Experiential avoidance, thought suppression, meta-cognition, and body-checking among women during pregnancy and postpartum: Buffering effect of self-compassion.

The present study attempted to explore the psychological experiences of experiential avoidance, thought suppression, meta-cognition, self-compassion and body-checking during two stages of maternity (pregnancy and postpartum) among women embracing maternity for the first time. The study used a cross sectional correlational design and enrolled 306 women participants who were in their third trimester of pregnancy or of postpartum (pregnant = 154 [50.3%]; postpartum = 152 [49.7%]) with ages ranging between 20 and 35 years (M = 26.62; SD = 2.19). The data was collected using the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (BEAQ); Thought Control Questionnaire (TCQ); Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ); Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), and Body-checking Questionnaire (BCQ). Data was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 21. A significant positive association was observed between experiential avoidance, thought suppression, meta-cognition, and body-checking while self-compassion showed reverse association with these variables. The body-checking outcome was significantly negatively predicted by self-compassionate attitude and positively by thought suppression in both groups (i.e., pregnant and postpartum). The experiential avoidance positively predicted body-checking among women in post-partum group only. Moreover, a mediating association of experiential avoidance and a moderating effect of self-compassion (self-kindness and common humanity) and meta-cognition (positive beliefs about worry and need to control thought) were also observed to moderate between thought suppression and body-checking outcomes. The study concluded that experiential avoidance and thought suppression contribute in developing body-checking behaviors among women who are pregnant or at postpartum stage of maternity. In addition, self-compassion and meta-cognition moderate this association with self-compassion playing potential buffer.

Assessing the mediating role of emotion regulation and experiential avoidance within a posttraumatic stress disorder and racial trauma framework.

Theoretical and empirical evidence has begun to delineate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and racial trauma, but the degree to which individual psychological processes differ in the development of these two outcomes remains limited. Despite key distinctions in etiology and phenotypic presentations, prominent PTSD risk factors such as difficulties in emotion regulation and experiential avoidance (EA) may also contribute to the development of racial trauma. The goal of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate how difficulties in emotion regulation and EA differ in their associations with PTSD and racial trauma. For this study, racial and ethnic minority undergraduate students completed a battery of questionnaires including the Everyday Discrimination Scale, Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Trauma Symptoms of Discrimination Scale, and the PTSD checklist for DSM-5. A path model suggested emotion regulation difficulties and EA significantly mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and PTSD symptoms. However, only emotion regulation difficulties mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and racial trauma symptoms. Compared to racial trauma, pairwise comparisons suggested that emotion regulation difficulties and EA indirect effects were significantly greater when predicting PTSD symptoms. Additionally, the effects of emotion regulation difficulties were greater than EA when predicting PTSD symptoms and racial trauma. Findings of the present study suggest individual psychological factors may play a lesser role in the development of racial trauma compared to PTSD symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Neural underpinnings of the interplay between actual touch and action imagination in social contexts.

While there is established evidence supporting the involvement of the sense of touch in various actions, the neural underpinnings of touch and action interplay in a social context remain poorly understood. To prospectively investigate this phenomenon and offer further insights, we employed a combination of motor and sensory components by asking participants to imagine exerting force with the index finger while experiencing their own touch, the touch of one another individual, the touch of a surface, and no touch. Based on the assumption that the patterns of activation in the motor system are similar when action is imagined or actually performed, we proceeded to apply a single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex (M1) while participants engaged in the act of imagination. Touch experience was associated with higher M1 excitability in the presence and in the absence of force production imagination, but only during force production imagination M1 excitability differed among the types of touch: both biological sources, the self-touch and the touch of one other individual, elicited a significant increase in motor system activity when compared to touching a non-living surface or in the absence of touch. A strong correlation between individual touch avoidance questionnaire values and facilitation in the motor system was present while touching another person, indicating a social aspect for touch in action. The present study unveils the motor system correlates when the sensory/motor components of touch are considered in social contexts.