Experiential Avoidance in Primary Care Providers: Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian “Acceptance and Action Questionnaire” (AAQ-II) and Its Criterion Validity on Mood Disorder-Related Psychological Distress

Tatiana Berta-Otero, Alberto Barceló-Soler, Jesus Montero-Marin (), Shannon Maloney, Adrián Pérez-Aranda, Alba López-Montoyo, Vera Salvo, Marcio Sussumu, Javier García-Campayo and Marcelo Demarzo
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Tatiana Berta-Otero: Centro Mente Aberta (Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion), Department of Preventive Medicine, UNIFESP, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
Alberto Barceló-Soler: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Jesus Montero-Marin: Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Shannon Maloney: Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Adrián Pérez-Aranda: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Alba López-Montoyo: Department of Basic, Clinical Psychology, and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12006 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
Vera Salvo: Centro Mente Aberta (Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion), Department of Preventive Medicine, UNIFESP, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
Marcio Sussumu: Centro Mente Aberta (Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion), Department of Preventive Medicine, UNIFESP, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil
Javier García-Campayo: Institute of Health Research of Aragon (IIS), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Marcelo Demarzo: Centro Mente Aberta (Brazilian Center for Mindfulness and Health Promotion), Department of Preventive Medicine, UNIFESP, São Paulo 04753-060, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Background: A sizeable proportion of Brazilian Primary Care (PC) providers suffer from common mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. In an effort to cope with job-related distress, PC workers are likely to implement maladaptive strategies such as experiential avoidance (EA). The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) is a widely used instrument that evaluates EA but has shown questionable internal consistency in specific populations. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the AAQ-II among Brazilian PC providers, evaluates its convergence and divergence with self-criticism and mindfulness skills, and explores its criterion validity on anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted in Brazilian PC services, and the sample included 407 PC workers. The measures evaluated EA, self-criticism, mindfulness, depression, and anxiety. Results: The one-factor model of the AAQ-II replicated the original version structure. The AAQ-II presented good internal consistency among Brazilian PC providers. A multiple regression model demonstrated higher relationships with self-criticism than mindfulness skills. The criterion validity of the AAQ-II on anxiety and depression was stronger in the context of more severe symptoms. Conclusions: The AAQ-II is an appropriate questionnaire to measure the lack of psychological flexibility among Brazilian PC workers in the sense of EA.

Keywords: AAQ-II; primary care providers; psychological flexibility; experiential avoidance; self-criticism; mindfulness; anxiety; depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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