Geytenbeek, Diane (2014) Do Mindfulness Skills Impact on the Link between Anxiety and Experiential Avoidance? Coursework Masters thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
The prevalence of anxiety disorders in Australia, and the impact on the individual and the Healthcare system, is clear. The unhelpful, and sometimes detrimental, effect of experiential avoidance is undeniable, and the research to support the relationship between these two constructs is extensive. Mindfulness has been established as an effective treatment for a variety of conditions including anxiety disorders and has increasingly been explored within the literature as a multi-, in comparison to uni-dimensional construct. The current study aimed to establish whether the four mindfulness skills, as measured by the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS), mediated the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance. A cross-sectional, correlational, and multiple linear regression analytic research design was applied. Participants (N= 374) included 78 males and 296 females. Ages ranged from 18- 68 years, with a mean age of 28 years (SD= 12 years). This sample also consisted of a variety of cultures, including Australian and New Zealand residents (N= 351), five of whom identified as being Indigenous, British (N= 6), South African (N= 5), American (N= 1), Afghan (N=1), Congolese (N= 1), Indian (N= 1), Indonesian (N= 2), Irish (N= 1), Malaysian (N= 1), Thai (N= 1), Dutch (N= 1) and another two who were unidentified. This sample also consisted of a range of education levels. Data were collected through an online survey. For the purpose of the present study, measures utilised were the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire- 2nd, and the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Findings revealed that mindfulness skills observe and describe did not mediate the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance. Act with awareness and accept without judgment were found to significantly (p<.001)
mediate the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance, with accept without judgment having the greatest effect. The current study builds on previous research as these mediating relationships have not previously been explored. Future research could further investigate the validity of the proposed dimensions of mindfulness within an Australian population.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Coursework Masters) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Gavin Beccaria |
| Qualification: | Master of Psychology (Clinical) |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Oct 2025 05:56 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Oct 2025 05:56 |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52343 |
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