Profiles of Psychological Flexibility: A Latent Class Analysis of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Model. Issue 3 (May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tyndall, Ian; Waldeck, Daniel; Pancani, Luca; Whelan, Robert; Roche, Bryan; Pereira, Antonina
• Is Part Of: Behavior modification. Volume 44:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 365
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2020-05
• Subjects: psychological flexibility -- acceptance and commitment therapy -- experiential avoidance -- latent class analysis; Behavior modification -- Periodicals; Behavior therapy -- Periodicals; 153.85
• DOI: 10.1177/0145445518820036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-4455

Abstract

There exists uncertainty for clinicians over how the separate subcomponent processes of psychological flexibility, a core construct of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy model, interact and influence distress experienced. The present study ( N = 567) employed latent class analysis to (a) identify potential classes (i.e., subgroups) of psychological flexibility based on responses on measures of key subcomponent process and (b) examine whether such classes could reliably differentiate levels of self-reported psychological distress and positive and negative emotionality. We found three distinct classes: (a) High Psychological Flexibility, (b) Moderate Psychological Flexibility, and (c) Low Psychological Flexibility. Those in the Low Psychology Flexibility class reported highest levels of psychological distress, whereas those in the High Psychological Flexibility class reported lowest levels of psychological distress. This study provides a clearer view to clinicians of the profile of the broader spectrum of the psychological flexibility model to facilitate change in clients.