Boi Cinzia, Llera Sandra J
Department of Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252, USA.
Department of Psychology, Towson University, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252, USA.
J Anxiety Disord. 2023 Apr;95:102682. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102682. Epub 2023 Feb 18.
The Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM; Newman & Llera, 2011) has been well established in the literature on the etiology and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Research has investigated other factors that may also characterize GAD, such as fear of emotional responding, negative problem orientation (NPO), and negative beliefs about control; however, these have yet to be explored within the context of the CAM regarding maintenance of GAD symptoms. The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive relationship between the above-mentioned factors and GAD symptoms, mediated by contrast avoidance. Participants (N = 99, 49.5% of whom scored in the upper range on GAD symptoms) completed a series of questionnaires across three time points, each one week apart. Results indicated that fear of emotional responding, NPO, and sensitivity to low perceived control predicted CA tendencies a week later. CA tendencies then mediated the relationship between each predictor and GAD symptoms in the following week. Findings suggested that known vulnerabilities for GAD predict coping with distressing internal responses via sustained negative emotionality (such as through chronic worry) as a way to avoid negative emotional contrasts. However, this coping mechanism itself may maintain GAD symptoms over time.
对比回避模型（CAM；纽曼和莱拉，2011）在关于广泛性焦虑症（GAD）的病因和维持机制的文献中已得到充分确立。研究已经调查了其他可能也是广泛性焦虑症特征的因素，例如对情绪反应的恐惧、消极问题取向（NPO）以及对控制的消极信念；然而，在对比回避模型的背景下，这些因素在维持广泛性焦虑症症状方面尚未得到探讨。本研究的目的是探讨上述因素与广泛性焦虑症症状之间的预测关系，以对比回避为中介。参与者（N = 99，其中49.5%在广泛性焦虑症症状上得分处于较高范围）在三个时间点完成了一系列问卷，每个时间点相隔一周。结果表明，对情绪反应的恐惧、消极问题取向以及对低感知控制的敏感性在一周后预测了对比回避倾向。对比回避倾向随后在接下来的一周中介导了每个预测因素与广泛性焦虑症症状之间的关系。研究结果表明，已知的广泛性焦虑症易感性预测了通过持续的消极情绪（如通过长期担忧）来应对痛苦的内部反应，以此作为避免负面情绪对比的一种方式。然而，这种应对机制本身可能会随着时间的推移维持广泛性焦虑症症状。
