title: Validating measures of psychological flexibility in a population with acquired brain injury.
abstract: This study presents preliminary validation data on both the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Acquired Brain Injury (AAQ-ABI) and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). Data from 150 participants with ABI was subject to exploratory factor analysis on the AAQ-ABI (15 items). A subset of 75 participants with ABI completed a larger battery of measures to test construct validity for the AAQ-ABI and to undertake a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the AAQ-II (7 items). Three meaningful factors were identified on the AAQ-ABI: Reactive Avoidance, Denial, and Active Acceptance. Reactive Avoidance demonstrated good internal and test-retest consistency (α = .89) and correlated in expected directions with other related measures including the AAQ-II. CFA of the AAQ-II did not provide a good fit but did have similar correlations with measures of psychological distress as found in prior non-ABI samples. The results suggest both measures can be used with individuals following an ABI but they index different facets of psychological flexibility. The AAQ-ABI appears to measure psychological flexibility about the thoughts and feelings relating to the brain injury itself while the AAQ-II measures psychological flexibility around general psychological distress. Future research could explore the additional 2 factors of the AAQ-ABI and use these measures in outcome studies that promote psychological flexibility in individuals with an ABI.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit.
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Wollongong.
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Deane
authors.affiliation: Institute of Positive Psychology & Education, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ciarrochi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow.
authors.forename: Hamish J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.affiliation: Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research.
authors.forename: Grahame K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D064869:Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult