TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the role of psychological inflexibility, mindfulness, and self-compassion in PTSD
AU - Cheng, Zhen Hadassah
AU - Lozier, Crystal C.
AU - Lewis, Meaghan M.
AU - O'Neil, Maya E.
AU - Luoma, Jason B.
AU - Morasco, Benjamin J.
N1 - Funding Information:
The writing of this manuscript was supported in part by the Office of Academic Affiliations , Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment , Department of Veterans Affairs United States . The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Zhen H. Cheng. Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239. E-mail: zcheng@uoregon.edu .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Psychological inflexibility has been linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this cross-sectional self-report study was to examine how psychological inflexibility, along with closely related concepts such as mindfulness and self-compassion, are associated with PTSD among a clinical sample using PTSD DSM-5 criteria. A sample of 200 veterans (mean age = 54.6; 71.0% male, 25.5% female) were recruited from mental health clinics within a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Controlling for mindfulness and self-compassion, veterans with PTSD had significantly higher levels of psychological inflexibility compared to those without PTSD. In addition, psychological inflexibility was associated with overall PTSD severity, even after controlling for mindfulness, self-compassion, depression, alcohol and substance use, and demographic variables. The observing facet of mindfulness was significantly associated with higher levels of PTSD, while the describing facet was related to lower overall PTSD symptoms. Self-compassion was no longer associated with PTSD symptoms when controlling for other variables. These findings support the relationship between psychological inflexibility and DSM-5 PTSD. Targeting psychological inflexibility may be a key focal point in improving PTSD-related treatment outcomes.
AB - Psychological inflexibility has been linked to a variety of mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this cross-sectional self-report study was to examine how psychological inflexibility, along with closely related concepts such as mindfulness and self-compassion, are associated with PTSD among a clinical sample using PTSD DSM-5 criteria. A sample of 200 veterans (mean age = 54.6; 71.0% male, 25.5% female) were recruited from mental health clinics within a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Controlling for mindfulness and self-compassion, veterans with PTSD had significantly higher levels of psychological inflexibility compared to those without PTSD. In addition, psychological inflexibility was associated with overall PTSD severity, even after controlling for mindfulness, self-compassion, depression, alcohol and substance use, and demographic variables. The observing facet of mindfulness was significantly associated with higher levels of PTSD, while the describing facet was related to lower overall PTSD symptoms. Self-compassion was no longer associated with PTSD symptoms when controlling for other variables. These findings support the relationship between psychological inflexibility and DSM-5 PTSD. Targeting psychological inflexibility may be a key focal point in improving PTSD-related treatment outcomes.
KW - Mindfulness
KW - PTSD
KW - Psychological inflexibility
KW - Self-compassion
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.10.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.10.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85118533021
SN - 2212-1447
VL - 22
SP - 102
EP - 107
JO - Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
JF - Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
ER -