Measuring avoidance in medical rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To establish psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ), a measure of avoidance, in medical rehabilitation populations.


METHODS
Cross-sectional and longitudinal.


METHODS
Three acute, inpatient rehabilitation units.


METHODS
One hundred thirty-nine adults with spinal cord dysfunction, stroke, amputation, or orthopedic surgery.


METHODS
AAQ, Hope Scale, Spiritual Well-Being Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory, Hopkins Rehabilitation Engagement Rating Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Satisfaction with Life Scale.


RESULTS
The AAQ has adequate internal consistency (alpha = .70), is best understood with a two-factor solution, is positively correlated with depression (r = .36, p < .01) and negative affect (r = .41, p < .001), and is negatively correlated with hope (r = -.51, p < .001), positive affect (r = -.33, p < .001), and spiritual well-being (r = -.32, p < .001). Predictive relationships with life satisfaction (beta = -.40, p < .001) and level of handicap (beta = -.20, p < .014) were found at 3-month follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings provide preliminary support that the AAQ is reliable and valid in medical populations and that avoidance plays an important role in rehabilitation outcomes.
Kortte
Kathleen B
KB
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Veiel
Lori
L
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Batten
Sonja V
SV
VA Maryland Health Care System.
Wegener
Stephen T
ST
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult