Sequential multiple mediation of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance in the relationship between rumination and social anxiety among Chinese adolescents

Cheng, Qi; Shi, Congrong; Yan, Chao; Ren, Zhihong; Chan, Sunny Ho-Wan; Xiong, Sijia; Zhang, Tao; Zheng, Hong

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The potential mechanism by which rumination influences social anxiety through cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance proposed by the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy model has not been well-documented. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the sequential multiple mediation of the two processes. Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Method: A total of 233 Chinese adolescents (42.06% girls) completed a set of printed self-report questionnaires measuring rumination, cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, and social anxiety. The SPSS macro PROCESS (model 6) was used to test a sequential mediating model. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated with 5000 bootstrapping re-samples. Results: Bootstrap analyses indicated that there were indirect effects of rumination on social anxiety mediated by cognitive fusion together with experiential avoidance (B = 0.098, BootSE = 0.032, CI = 0.045 to 0.170), or solely by experiential avoidance (B = 0.048, BootSE = 0.020, CI = 0.014 to 0.093). The mediation of cognitive fusion alone was not significant (B = 0.065, BootSE = 0.038, CI = –0.006 to 0.144). Conclusions: The results indicated the sequential mediating role of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance, and the relative prominence of the latter in the association between rumination and social anxiety.

Citation

Cheng, Q., Shi, C., Yan, C., Ren, Z., Chan, S. H., Xiong, S., …Zheng, H. (2022). Sequential multiple mediation of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance in the relationship between rumination and social anxiety among Chinese adolescents. Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 35(3), 354-364. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1955864

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 21, 2021
• Publication Date: May 4, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 30, 2022
• Journal: Anxiety, Stress and Coping
• Print ISSN: 1061-5806
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-2205
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 354-364
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1955864
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous); Clinical Psychology; Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10110477
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10615806.2021.1955864
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=gasc20; Received: 2020-11-02; Revised: 2021-06-28; Accepted: 2021-07-02; Published: 2021-07-21