title: Understanding the relationships between self-esteem, experiential avoidance, and paranoia: structural equation modelling and experience sampling studies.
abstract: Hypothesized relationships between experiential avoidance (EA), self-esteem, and paranoia were tested using structural equation modeling in a sample of student participants (N = 427). EA in everyday life was also investigated using the Experience Sampling Method in a subsample of students scoring high (N = 17) and low (N = 15) on paranoia. Results showed that paranoid students had lower self-esteem and reported higher levels of EA than nonparanoid participants. The interactive influence of EA and stress predicted negative self-esteem: EA was particularly damaging at high levels of stress. Greater EA and higher social stress independently predicted lower positive self-esteem. Low positive self-esteem predicted engagement in EA. A direct association between EA and paranoia was also found. These results suggest that similar mechanisms may underlie EA and thought suppression. Although people may employ EA to regulate self-esteem, this strategy is maladaptive as it damages self-esteem, incurs cognitive costs, and fosters paranoid thinking.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Bangor University, Gwynedd, United Kingdom. a.udachina@bangor.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Udachina
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thewissen
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Myin-Germeys
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: Aisling
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'kane
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bentall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires