Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of experiential avoidance (EA) on the relationships among distress tolerance for negative emotional states (DT), intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and worry symptoms. A total of 326 university students who completed an assessment battery consisting of DT, IU, EA, worry symptoms were included for this analysis. A structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation effect of EA. The results showed that EA fully mediated the influence of DT and IU on worry symptoms. Moreover, indirect and direct effect of DT was stronger than that of IU. These findings once again confirmed the unique influence of emotional distress tolerance and the lack of intolerance of uncertainty on worry symptoms. Furthermore, these findings suggest how Generalized Anxiety Disorder Acceptance-based intervention is more effective. Especially, experiential acceptance on thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and so on, suggests that an acceptance on emotion are more effective to worry symptoms than acceptance on thoughts.