Psychological well-being mediates the effects of experiential avoidance on psychological outcomes in cancer

Abstract

Objective: the aim of the present study was to test a model in which Psychological Well-being (PWB) mediates the relation of Experiential Avoidance (EA) with Depression, Anxiety, Daily living/Role Functioning, and Relations to Self/Others in patients with cancer. Methods: participants were recruited in the Oncology Units of the Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa, Italy. Measures of PWB, EA, Depression, Anxiety, Daily living/Role Functioning, and Relations to Self/Others were obtained from standardised, self-administered questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to test for mediational models. Results: EA significantly predicted PWB, Depression, Anxiety, Daily living/Role Functioning, and Relations to Self/Others. Moreover, the effect of EA on the outcome measures was not significant anymore when controlling for PWB scores, whereas the latter still predicted them. Conclusion: PWB fully mediated the relation of EA with Depression, Anxiety, Daily living/Role Functioning, and Relations to Self/Others