Coping through avoidance may explain gender disparities in anxiety
Panayiotou, G., Karekla, M., & Leonidou, C. (2017). Coping through avoidance may explain gender disparities in anxiety. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(2), 215-220. doi:10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.04.005
To-date no models adequately address the higher vulnerability of women to anxiety pathology, in contrast to other disorders, such as depression where ruminative thinking has been identified as accounting for women's greater risk. This investigation examines the hypothesis that gender differences in coping, with women relying more on specific types of avoidance, may in part explain women's anxiety risk. Coping, experiential avoidance, anxiety symptoms, anxiety sensitivity and perceived stress due to life stressors were assessed in a community sample (N=456). Women were more likely to meet clinical screening cut-offs for anxiety disorders, report more symptoms and experience greater anxiety sensitivity than men. They also reported greater reliance on avoidant coping and experiential avoidance, which were associated with increased anxiety. Gender moderated coping effects so that the coping style that mostly differentiated women from men in predicting anxiety was behavioral disengagement. To the contrary, self-reported stress due to life events did not significantly explain anxiety gender effects as no significant moderation by gender was observed. Results suggest that greater reliance on avoidance, especially behavioral avoidance, may be associated with increased vulnerability to anxiety specifically among women.
To find the full text version of this article and others (as well as download a full text .pdf.), ACBS members can visit the ScienceDirect homepage here.
Pre-deployment trait anxiety, anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance predict war-zone stress-evoked psychopathology
Authors:
Adam R. Cobb, Cynthia L. Lancaster, Eric C. Meyer, Han-Joo Lee, & Michael J. Telch
Using derived relational responding to model statistics learning across participants with varying degrees of statistics anxiety
Sandoz, E. K., & Hebert, E. R. (2017;2016;). Using derived relational responding to model statistics learning across participants with varying degrees of statistics anxiety. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 18(1), 113-19. doi:10.1080/15021149.2016.1146552
Statistics courses offer a challenge for students in behavioral science programs. Many students experience statistics-related anxiety resulting in deficits in comprehension and performance with potential long-term consequences. This may be attributable to the avoidance that often accompanies statistics anxiety. However, it may also be attributable to disruptions of fundamental learning processes that are necessary for statistics performance. Relational frame theory may provide an analysis of how individuals learn to respond to statistical concepts in terms of derived relational responding (DRR). Students who experience statistics anxiety may perform poorly because the DRR involved in learning statistics is disrupted. This study aimed to model statistics learning using a DRR task and to explore the relationship of statistics anxiety and DRR with statistics stimuli. Twenty-seven undergraduate students completed a measure of statistics anxiety and a conditional discrimination task in which they learned to relate statistics stimuli. DRR training with statistics stimuli resulted in quick and accurate relational responding with both familiar and novel stimuli in this sample. High rates of correct responding on DRR testing were associated with posttraining statistics quiz accuracy. Additionally, statistics anxiety was related to poor DRR accuracy and greater difficulty meeting pass criterion.
B-SA-AAQ (Brief Social Anxiety - Acceptance and Action Questionnaire)
The SA-AAQ has been evaluated and a shorter version is now available. The Brief Social Anxiety - Acceptance and Action Questionnaire is attached below.
MacKenzie, M. B., Kocovski, N. L., Blackie, R. A., Carrique, L. C., Fleming, J. E., & Antony, M. M. (2017). Development of a brief version of the Social Anxiety – Acceptance and Action Questionnaire. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 39, 342-354.
ACT for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Skills Group Handouts
Attached are ACT skills group handouts that we have used on our perinatal psychiatry inpatient unit at UNC Hospital at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They were adapted from multiple other sources, so the content is in no way original. Also attached is our manuscript describing the rationale and use of these materials.
For additional information, you can contact Crystal Schiller at crystal_schiller@med.unc.edu.
Coping through avoidance may explain gender disparities in anxiety
Authors:
Georgia Panayiotou, Maria Karekla, and Chrysanthi Leonidou
Abstract:
Recent meta analysis on CBT and Generalised Anxiety Disorder in Older People
Just came across this systematic review and metanalysis that is relevant to the interests of this group:
Kishita, N., & Laidlaw, K. (2017). Cognitive behaviour therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: Is CBT equally efficacious in adults of working age and older adults? Clinical Psychology Review, 52, 124–136. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.01.003
A preliminary examination of willingness and importance as moderators of the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance
Sandoz, E. K., Butcher, G., & Protti, T. A. (2017). A preliminary examination of willingness and importance as moderators of the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(1), 47-52.
Statistics coursework presents a significant challenge for college students, often associated with anxiety, which further inhibits performance. Applied to statistics anxiety and performance, the psychological flexibility model suggests that statistics anxiety may not inhibit performance when it is approached willingly in service of important values. The current study offered a preliminary consideration of statistics-related willingness and importance as moderators of the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance. Undergraduate students completed a measure of statistics anxiety, willingness to engage statistics, and the importance attributed to statistics engagement, then took a short statistics quiz. Results provided preliminary evidence that both willingness and importance moderate the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance on a statistics quiz.
To find the full text version of this article and others (as well as download a full text .pdf.), ACBS members can visit the ScienceDirect homepage here.
The role of experiential avoidance in the relation between anxiety disorder diagnoses and future physical health symptoms in a community sample of young adult women
Berghoff, C.R., Tull, M. T., DiLillo, D., Messman-Moore, T., & Gratz, K. L. (2017). The role of experiential avoidance in the relation between anxiety disorder diagnoses and future physical health symptoms in a community sample of young adult women. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 6(1), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2016.11.002
Individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder report more physical health problems than those without an anxiety disorder. Few studies have examined the relation of anxiety disorders to later physical health symptoms, or the processes that may explain this relation. One process of interest is experiential avoidance (EA), which is commonly reported in populations characterized by high anxiety and often leads to health-compromising behaviors. The present study examined the relations between anxiety disorder diagnostic status, EA, and physical health symptoms in a community sample of young adult women. Results revealed a significant association between an anxiety disorder diagnosis and physical health problems four months later. Furthermore, levels of EA accounted for this relation. Findings highlight the potential utility of targeting EA as a method for improving health outcomes among individuals with anxiety disorders.
To find the full text version of this article and others (as well as download a full text .pdf.), ACBS members can visit the ScienceDirect homepage here.
A preliminary examination of willingness and importance as moderators of the relationship between statistics anxiety and performance
Authors:
Emily K. Sandoz, Grayson Butcher, Tracy A. Protti