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.

• 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