Experiential Avoidance Mediates the Association between Emotion Regulation Abilities and Loneliness

Rui Shi; Shilei Zhang; Qianwen Zhang; Shaoping Fu; Zhenhong Wang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168536

Experiential Avoidance Mediates the Association between Emotion Regulation Abilities and Loneliness

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 28;11(12):e0168536. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168536. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Rui Shi¹, Shilei Zhang^{2

3}, Qianwen Zhang², Shaoping Fu¹, Zhenhong Wang³

Affiliations

¹ College of Humanities, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China.
² Psychological Counseling Centre, Chang'an University, Xi'an, P.R. China.
³ School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, P.R. China.

Abstract

Experiential avoidance (EA) involves the unwillingness to remain in contact with aversive experiences such as painful feelings, thoughts, and emotions. EA is often associated with the development and maintenance of emotional problems. Since loneliness is characterized by negative emotions such as sadness and pessimism, which is often linked to emotional problems, this study aims to test the mediating effects of EA on the relationship between emotion regulation abilities (ERA) and loneliness in a sample of Chinese adults. Five hundred undergraduates completed questionnaires measuring EA (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire; AAQ-Ⅱ), ERA (Failure-relate action orientation; Action Control Scale, ACS-90) and loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale). Structural equation modeling showed that EA fully-mediated the relationship between ERA and loneliness. The findings suggest EA is a key mechanism in explaining why people with high ERA are prone to feeling lower levels of loneliness. In particular, these findings have important implications for designing effective psychological interventions for loneliness.

MeSH terms

Adult
Affective Symptoms / psychology*
Avoidance Learning*
Emotions / physiology*
Female
Humans
Loneliness / psychology*
Male
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Stress, Psychological*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Projects of the Scientific Startup Funds for Doctors of NWAFU(Z109021614), which was awarded to Rui Shi. And by the Projects of the Shaanxi Province Social Science(2015N014), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (310850160666), which were awarded to Shilei Zhang.