title: The role of experiential avoidance, psychopathology, and borderline personality features in experiencing positive emotions: a path analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Experiential avoidance (EA) is an important factor in maintaining different forms of psychopathology including borderline personality pathology (BPD). So far little is known about the functions of EA, BPD features and general psychopathology for positive emotions. In this study we investigated three different anticipated pathways of their influence on positive emotions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 334 subjects varying in general psychopathology &/or BPD features completed an online survey including self-ratings of BPD features, psychopathology, negative and positive emotions, and EA. Measures of positive emotions included both a general self-rating (PANAS) and emotional changes induced by two positive movie clips. Data were analyzed by means of path analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparing the three path models, one model was found clearly superior: In this model, EA acts as a mediator of the influence of psychopathology, BPD features, and negative emotions in the prediction of both measures of positive emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA plays a central role in maintaining lack of positive emotions. Therapeutic implications and study limitations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Engelbergerstraße 41, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. gitta.jacob@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Gitta A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ower
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buchholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009862:Online Systems; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011599:Psychopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult