BACKGROUND: Research on the implication of experiential avoidance in the aetiology and maintenance of diverse forms of psychopathology has grown considerably over the last 10 years. However, the potential contribution of experiential avoidance to cancer-related distress has received limited attention. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine the association between experiential avoidance, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life (QoL) during the course of a psychological group intervention for women with breast cancer. METHODS: Fifty-four women with breast cancer participated in a psychological group intervention designed to reduce distress and improve QoL. Participants completed measures of experiential avoidance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and QoL upon the first and last sessions. RESULTS: A path analysis revealed that, after controlling for baseline measures, smaller reductions in experiential avoidance during the course of the intervention predicted smaller reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Also, experiential avoidance had a negative indirect effect on QoL via depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Experiential avoidance may perpetuate the emotional problems commonly found in women with breast cancer and attenuate improvements associated with participation in psychological interventions. Implications for clinical practice in psycho-oncology are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Research on the implication of experiential avoidance in the aetiology and maintenance of diverse forms of psychopathology has grown considerably over the last 10 years. However, the potential contribution of experiential avoidance to cancer-related distress has received limited attention. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine the association between experiential avoidance, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and quality of life (QoL) during the course of a psychological group intervention for women with breast cancer. METHODS: Fifty-four women with breast cancer participated in a psychological group intervention designed to reduce distress and improve QoL. Participants completed measures of experiential avoidance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and QoL upon the first and last sessions. RESULTS: A path analysis revealed that, after controlling for baseline measures, smaller reductions in experiential avoidance during the course of the intervention predicted smaller reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Also, experiential avoidance had a negative indirect effect on QoL via depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Experiential avoidance may perpetuate the emotional problems commonly found in women with breast cancer and attenuate improvements associated with participation in psychological interventions. Implications for clinical practice in psycho-oncology are discussed.
Authors: Megan E Renna; M Rosie Shrout; Annelise A Madison; Catherine M Alfano; Stephen P Povoski; Adele M Lipari; Doreen M Agnese; William E Carson; Janice K Kiecolt-Glaser Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2020-09-09 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Nicholas J Hulbert-Williams; Sabrina Norwood; David Gillanders; Anne Finucane; Juliet Spiller; Jenny Strachan; Sue Millington; Brooke Swash Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2019-08-20
Authors: Nurul Izzah Shari; Nor Zuraida Zainal; Ng Chong Guan; Zuraida Ahmad Sabki; Nor Aziyan Yahaya Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-02-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Katharina Kuba; Gregor Weißflog; Heide Götze; Francisco García-Torres; Anja Mehnert; Peter Esser Journal: Int J Clin Health Psychol Date: 2019-01-16