The relationship between low levels of mindfulness skills and pathological worry: the mediating role of psychological inflexibility

• Autores: Francisco J. Ruiz
• Localización: Anales de psicología, ISSN-e 1695-2294, ISSN 0212-9728, Vol. 30, Nº. 3, 2014, págs. 887-897
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.6018/analesps.30.3.150651
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Recientemente, las intervenciones basadas en mindfulness se han propuesto para el tratamiento del trastorno de ansiedad generalizada. Sin embargo, no se conoce aún adecuadamente la naturaleza específica de la relación entre las habilidades de mindfulness y la preocupación patológica. Este estudio analiza el rol de la inflexibilidad psicológica, un constructo central en el modelo psicopatológico de la terapia de aceptación y com-promiso (ACT), en el efecto que las habilidades de mindfulness tienen en la preocupación patológica. Un total de 132 participantes completaron ins-trumentos que miden los constructos de interés: el Penn State Worry Ques-tionnaire (PSWQ), el Acceptance and Action Questionnaire � II (AAQ-II), y el Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS). Puesto que la tra-ducción al español del KIMS carecía de validación formal, se analizaron sus propiedades psicométricas y estructura factorial. Este proceso generó una versión reducida del KIMS con buena consistencia interna y estructura fac-torial. Los análisis de mediación revelaron que la inflexibilidad psicológica medió completamente los efectos de las habilidades de mindfulness en la preocupación patológica. En cuanto a las habilidades de mindfulness espe-cíficas, la inflexibilidad psicológica fue un mediador y supresor de las rela-ciones que tienen, respectivamente, la aceptación sin juicio y la acción cons-ciente con la preocupación. Se discuten los resultados enfatizando la nece-sidad de poner los ejercicios de mindfulness al servicio de promover flexibi-lidad psicológica.

  • English

    Mindfulness-based interventions have recently been proposed for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, the specific nature of the relationship between mindfulness skills and patholog-ical worry is still not very well known. This study analyzes the mediating role of psychological inflexibility�a central construct in the acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) model of psychopathology�in the effect of mindfulness skills on pathological worry. A total of 132 nonclinical par-ticipants completed questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest: the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire � II (AAQ-II), and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS). Because the Spanish translation of the KIMS used lacked of a formal validation, its psychometric properties and factor structure were previously evaluated. This process led to a reduced version of the KIMS that showed good internal consistency and factor structure. Mediation analyses revealed that psychological inflexibility fully mediated the effects of mindfulness skills as a set on pathological worry. Regarding specific mindfulness skills, psychological inflexibility was shown to be a mediator and suppressor, respectively, of the relationship between acceptance with-out judgment and act with awareness on worry. Results are discussed em-phasizing the need of using mindfulness exercises to promote psychologi-cal flexibility

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