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Langer ÁI, Ponce FP, Ordóñez-Carrasco JL, Fuentes-Ferrada R, Mac-Ginty S, Gaete J, Núñez D. Psychometric evidence of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II): an item response theory analysis in university students from Chile. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:111. [PMID: 38429801 PMCID: PMC10908082 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01608-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiential avoidance (EA) is a psychological mechanism associated with several mental health disorders and is regarded as a relevant target by third-generation cognitive behavioral therapies. It has been mainly assessed through self-report questionnaires, and the AAQ-II is the most used tool. Its psychometric evidence has been mostly tested through the classical test theory (CTT) and very scarcely assessed through Item Response Theory (IRT). METHODS We used the Graded Response Model to examine its psychometric properties in Spanish-speaking university students (n = 1503; women = 995 (66.2%), mean age = 19.29, SD = 2.45). We tested whether the empirical data fit the model's predictions and estimated the dispersion of persons and items along the experiential avoidance continuum. Moreover, we examined category probability curves to identify the response probability of each answer. Likewise, an item-person map was made where the measurement of persons and items, both on the same scale and along the experiential avoidance continuum, could be observed jointly. Finally, we tested the gender invariance of the scale. RESULTS We found that the values of the individuals and the items were in the established range to be considered an adequate measure of EA. Additionally, we observed high discrimination indices for all items. The current version with seven answer options could not be optimal and should be tested in future studies. Finally, we found evidence of differential functioning by gender in one of the seven items of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the AAQ-II is a suitable tool for measuring EA and accurately classifying and differentiating EA levels in university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro I Langer
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths, Imhay, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Psychology and Humanities, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Fernando P Ponce
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Talca, s/n, Talca, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus on Intergenerational Mobility: From Modelling to Policy (MOVI), Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Reiner Fuentes-Ferrada
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths, Imhay, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Psychology and Humanities, Universidad San Sebastián, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Scarlett Mac-Ginty
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths, Imhay, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Health Service and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jorge Gaete
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths, Imhay, Santiago, Chile
- Research Center for Students Mental Health (ISME), Faculty of Education, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel Núñez
- Millennium Nucleus to Improve the Mental Health of Adolescents and Youths, Imhay, Santiago, Chile.
- Faculty of Psychology, Universidad de Talca, s/n, Talca, Chile.
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Lin SSH, Jacobs ML, Halli-Tierney A, Carroll DG, Allen RS. Psychometric Properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) in Older Adult Primary Care Patients. Clin Gerontol 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37898917 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2023.2276291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Considering that the examination of psychological flexibility measures among older adults is scant, this study explores the psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) among outpatient geriatrics primary care clinic patients in a university-affiliated medical center in the Deep South. METHODS On average, patients who consented to participate in research (N = 119) were 75.42 (SD = 9.14) years old. Approximately 74% were women, 91% were non-Hispanic white, and 86% lived in urban areas. Measures included psychological inflexibility, subjective health literacy, depression, anxiety, and global cognitive functioning. RESULTS The AAQ-II demonstrated adequate internal reliability, Cronbach's α = 0.79, and good test-retest reliability, r(28) = .84, p < .001. With the removal of item 4, confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate construct validity for the use of AAQ-II with older adults. As predicted, the AAQ-II exhibited concurrent, predictive, discriminant, and incremental validity within this older adult sample. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate meaningful scientific and clinical implications. This is the first study to examine the psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) in an older adult sample. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The AAQ-II is a psychometrically sound measurement that can be clinically used on older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayne S-H Lin
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Mary Lindsey Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Research & Development Service, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Anne Halli-Tierney
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Family, Internal and Rural Medicine, College of Community Health Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Dana G Carroll
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Family, Internal and Rural Medicine, College of Community Health Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Rebecca S Allen
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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