Exploring an Implicit Measure of Acceptance and Experiential Avoidance of Anxiety
Experiential avoidance (EA) is a generalized risk factor for psychopathology and is defined as an unwillingness to remain in contact with private events. A number of behavioral tasks have demonstrated potential in assessing EA, including a limited number of studies using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP) IRAP studies of EA to date have involved relatively small samples, limited consideration of dependent variables, and/or stimulus configurations that addressed a conceptually narrow aspect of EA. The current study describes the initial piloting of an IRAP designed to assess implicit repertoires regarding EA and acceptance in response to anxiety relevant and positive emotional words. A variety of conceptually relevant self report measures were administered along with the EA IRAP to a sample of college undergraduates. Dependent variables included average latencies for each block type as well as D scores for each trial type of the IRAP. Evidence for convergent validity was revealed by correlations between the IRAP block type latencies and a self report measure of defusion, while unexpected divergent relations were obtained between self reports and IRAP D scores. Overall, the Drexel Defusion Scale was the most robust correlate of IRAP performance; trait anxiety and experiential avoidance were also correlated. We discuss alternative approaches to stimulus selection (including response options) increased efforts to reduce attrition, and utilization of clinical samples.