Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

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

Authors

Qi Cheng

Congrong Shi

Chao Yan

Zhihong Ren

Profile image of Sunny Chan

Dr Sunny Chan Sunny.Chan@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

Sijia Xiong

Tao Zhang

Hong Zheng



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.

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