title: The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - Stigma (AAQ-S): Developing a measure of psychological flexibility with stigmatizing thoughts.
abstract: The current study sought to develop and test the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire - Stigma (AAQ-S), a measure of psychological flexibility with stigmatizing thoughts. A sample of 604 undergraduate students completed an online survey, which included an initial pool of 43 AAQ-S items as well as measures related to psychological flexibility and stigma. Expert judge ratings and factor analysis were used to identify and refine two distinct subscales; psychological flexibility and psychological inflexibility relating to stigmatizing thoughts. Analyses indicated that the AAQ-S psychological flexibility and inflexibility subscales, as well as a combined total score, correlate with other measures of psychological flexibility and stigma in expected ways, and are more predictive of stigma than a general measure of psychological flexibility. Overall, the results suggest that the AAQ-S could be a useful measure in conducting future stigma research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology MS/298, University of Nevada, 1664N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557-0208, United States ; Department of Psychology, Utah State University, 2810 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, United States.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center, 1830 NE Grand Ave., Portland, OR 97212, United States.
authors.forename: Jason B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Luoma
authors.affiliation: Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, The Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School, 196 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, United States.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lillis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology MS/298, University of Nevada, 1664N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557-0208, United States.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, United States.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vilardaga
keywords: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Experiential avoidance; Prejudice; Psychological flexibility; Stigma