Relationship between experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion to social interaction anxiety in students

Abstract

Background: The current study aimed at assessing the relationship between experiential avoidance (EA) and cognitive fusion to the level of anxiety in students experiencing such problems in their social interactions. Methods: The sample consisted of 324 college students who were randomly selected by cluster sampling method. They completed acceptance and action questionnaire (AAQ-II), social anxiety-acceptance and action questionnaire (SA-AAQ), cognitive fusion questionnaire (CFQ), believability of anxious feelings and thoughts questionnaire (BAFT), and social interaction anxiety scale (SIAS). Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed a positive correlation between EA (r = 0.45; P < 0.001) and social anxiety-acceptance and action (r =-0.50; P < 0.001) and anxiety in social interactions. A significant positive correlation was also found between CFQ (r = 0.48; P < 0.001) and BAFT (r = 0.26; P < 0.001) and social interaction anxiety. Overall EA (β = 0.45) and acceptance (β =-0.37) and action (β =-0.12) components of SA-AAQ scores were predictor for overall anxiety score in social interactions (P < 0.001) In addition, overall cognitive fusion score (β = 0.48; P < 0.001), and somatic concerns (β = 0.16; P < 0.01), negative evaluation (β = 0.32; P < 0.003) and emotion regulation (β =-0.21; P < 0.001) components of BAFT could predict anxiety in social interactions. Conclusions: The results of the current study showed a correlation between EA and cognitive fusion and students anxiety in social interactions.