Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T06:00:01.222Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Expanding Research on Decentering as Measured by the Portuguese Version of the Experiences Questionnaire

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2015

Sónia Gregório*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
José Pinto-Gouveia
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Cristiana Duarte
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Luís Simões
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sónia Gregório. CINEICC. Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação. Universidade de Coimbra. Rua do Colégio Novo. Apartado 6153. 3001–802. Coimbra (Portugal). Phone: +351–239851450. Fax: +351–239851462. E-mail: sm_gregorio@hotmail.com

Abstract

For long decentering has been regarded as a crucial process for well-being and health. Thus, reliable measures are needed to assess decentering. This study aimed at examining the psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), and to contribute to gather new evidence on the role of this particular measure of decentering on the well-known relationship between rumination and depressive symptoms. The EQ factorial structure was assessed through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) conducted in 709 participants (66% women; 34% men). CFA’ results supported a 10-item solution (χ2/df = 2.62; CFI = .96; TLI = .95; RMSEA = .05, CI = .04 to .06) with high internal consistency (α = .81), test-retest reliability (r = .86; p < .010) and construct validity. Two path analyses were further conducted in a subsample exploring the indirect effect of rumination on depression through the mechanism of decentering as assessed by the specific measure of EQ, and by the non-specific measure of decentering TMS. Decentering, only when measured by EQ, significantly emerged as a mechanism through which the relationship between rumination and depressive symptoms also operates (R 2 = .22). Findings highlight the importance of using EQ as a specific measure of this transdiagnostic process in research and clinical settings.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baer, R. (2010). Mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions and processes of change. In Baer, R. (Ed.), Assessing mindfulness & acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and practice of change (pp. 124). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Google Scholar
Bieling, P. J., Hawley, L. L., Bloch, R. T., Corcoran, K. M., Levitan, R. D., Young, L. T., … Segal, Z. V. (2012). Treatment specific changes in decentering following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus antidepressant medication or placebo for prevention of depressive relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80, 365372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0027483 Google Scholar
Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., … Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11, 230241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/clipsy.bph077 Google Scholar
Bollen, K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Google Scholar
Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., … Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – II: A revised measure of psychological flexibility and acceptance. Behavior Therapy, 42, 676688. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007 Google Scholar
Brown, T. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 822848. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822 Google Scholar
Browne, M., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In Bollen, K. & Long, J. (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136162). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Byrne, B. (2010). Structural equation modeling with AMOS – Basic concepts, applications, and programming (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Taylor and Francis Group.Google Scholar
Carmody, J., Baer, R. A., Lykins, E. L. B., & Olendzki, N. (2009). An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65, 613626. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20579 Google Scholar
Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Model, 9, 233255. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_5 Google Scholar
Ciarrochi, J., Bilich, L., & Godsell, C. (2010). Psychological flexibility as a mechanism of change in acceptance and commitment therapy. In Baer, R. (Ed.), Assessing mindfulness & acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and practice of change (pp. 5175). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Google Scholar
Davis, K. M., Lau, M. A., & Cairns, D. R. (2009). Development and preliminary validation of a trait version of the Toronto Mindfulness Scale. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 23, 185197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.23.3.185 Google Scholar
DeCoster, J. (1998). Overview of factor analysis. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama.Google Scholar
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. The Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 7175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 Google Scholar
Dinis, A., Pinto-Gouveia, J., Duarte, C., & Castro, T. (2011). Estudo de validação da versão portuguesa da Escala de Respostas Ruminativas – Versão Reduzida [Validation study of the Portuguese version of the Ruminative Responses Scale – Short Form]. Psychologica, 54, 175202. Retrieved from http://iduc.uc.pt/index.php/psychologica/article/view/1105 Google Scholar
Fresco, D. M., Moore, M. T., van Dulmen, M. H. M., Segal, Z. V., Ma, S. H., Teasdale, J. D., & Williams, J. M. G. (2007). Initial psychometric properties of the Experiences Questionnaire. Behavior Therapy, 38, 234246. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2006.08.003 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fresco, D. M., Segal, Z. V., Buis, T., & Kennedy, S. (2007). Relationship of posttreatment decentering and cognitive reactivity to relapse in major depression. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75, 447455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.75.3.447 Google Scholar
Galinha, I., & Pais-Ribeiro, J. (2005). Contribuição para o estudo da versão portuguesa da Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): II – Estudo psicométrico. [Contribution for the study of adaptation of the Portuguese version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): II – Psychometric study]. Análise Psicológica, 2, 219227. Retrieved from http://www.scielo.gpeari.mctes.pt/scielo.php?pid=S0870-82312005000200012&script=sci_arttext Google Scholar
Gillanders, D., Bolderston, H., Bond, F., Dempster, M., Campbell, L., Kerr, S., … Remington, B. (2012). The Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Gregório, S., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2010). Portuguese version of the Toronto Mindfulness Scale – trait version. Manuscript in preparation.Google Scholar
Gregório, S., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2013). Mindful attention and awareness: Relationships with psychopathology and emotional regulation. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 16, E79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sjp.2013.79 Google Scholar
Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2, 271299. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//1089-2680.2.3.271 Google Scholar
Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348362. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348 Google Scholar
Hayes, A. (2013). Introduction to mediation, moderation and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Hayes, S., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., Wilson, K. G., Bissett, R. T., Pistorello, J., Toarmino, D., … McCurry, S. M. (2004). Measuring experiential avoidance: A preliminary test of a working model. The Psychological Record, 54, 553578.Google Scholar
Hollon, S., & Beck, A. (1979). Cognitive-therapy of depression. In Kendal, P., & Hollon, S. (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioral interventions: Theory, research and procedures (pp. 153203). New York, NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118 Google Scholar
Ingram, R. E., & Hollon, S. D. (1986). Cognitive therapy for depression from an information processing perspective. In Ingram, R. E. (Ed.), Information processing approaches to clinical psychology (pp. 255281). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Jöreskog, K. G. (1969). A general approach to confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 34, 183202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02289343 Google Scholar
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your mind and body to face stress, pain and illness. New York, NY: Delacorte.Google Scholar
Kashdan, T. B., & Rottenberg, J. (2010). Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 865878. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.001 Google Scholar
Kline, R. (2005). Principals and practice of structural equation modelling (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Lau, M. A., Bishop, S. R., Segal, Z. V., Buis, T., Anderson, N. D., Carlson, L., … & Devins, G. (2006). The Toronto mindfulness scale: Development and validation. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 14451467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20326 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lo, C., Ho, S., Yu, N., & Siu, B. (2014). Decentering mediates the effect of ruminative and experiential self-focus on negative thinking in Depression. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 38, 389396. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10608-014-9603-2 Google Scholar
Lovibond, P. F., & Lovibond, S. H. (1995). The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 33, 335343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)00075-U Google Scholar
Lyubomirsky, S., & Tkach, C. (2004). The consequences of dysphoric rumination. In Papageorgiou, C. & Wells, A. (Eds.), Depressive rumination: Nature, theory, and treatment (pp. 2142). New York, NY: Wiley.Google Scholar
MacCallum, R. C., & Tucker, L. R. (1991). Representing sources of error in the common factor model: Implications for theory and practice. Psychological Bulletin, 109, 502511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.109.3.502 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maroco, J. (2010). Análise Estatística com o PASW Statistics. [Statistical Analyses with PASW Statistics]. Pêro Pinheiro, Portugal: ReportNumber, Lda.Google Scholar
Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., & Teasdale, J. D. (1996). Measure of awareness and coping in autobiographical memory: Instructions for administering and coding. Unpublished manuscript. University of Cambridge, Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Mor, N., & Winquist, J. (2002). Self-focused attention and negative affect: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 638662. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.128.4.638 Google Scholar
Morrow, J., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1990). Effects of responses to depression on the remediation of depressive affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 519527. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.58.3.519 Google Scholar
Neto, F., Barros, J., & Barros, A. (1990). Satisfação com a vida [Satisfaction with life]. In Almeida, L., Santiago, R., Silva, P., Oliveira, L., Caetano, O., & Marques, J. (Eds.), A acção educativa: Análise psico-social [The educational action: Psychosocial analysis] (pp. 91100). Leiria, Portugal: ESEL./APPORT.Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1987). Sex differences in unipolar depression: Evidence and theory. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 259282. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0033-2909.101.2.259 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1991). Responses to depression and their effects on the duration of depressive episodes. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 569582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0021-843X.100.4.569 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2004). The response styles theory. In Papageorgiou, C. & Wells, A. (Eds.), Depressive rumination: Nature, theory, and treatment (pp. 107124). New York, NY: Wiley.Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Davis, C. G. (1999). "Thanks for sharing that": Ruminators and their social support networks. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 801814. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.77.4.801 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Larson, J., & Grayson, C. (1999). Explaining the gender difference in depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 10611072. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.77.5.1061 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S.‚ & Morrow, J. (1991). A prospective study of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a natural disaster: The 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology61115121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.61.1.115 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S.‚ & Morrow, J. (1993). Effects of rumination and distraction on naturally occurring depressed mood. Cognition and Emotion7561570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699939308409206 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Morrow, J., & Fredrickson, B. L. (1993). Response styles and the duration of episodes of depressed mood. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 2028. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0021-843X.102.1.20 Google Scholar
Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Parker, L., & Larson, J. (1994). Ruminative coping with depressed mood following loss. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 92104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.67.1.92 Google Scholar
Pais-Ribeiro, J., Honrado, A., & Leal, I. (2004a). Contribuição para o estudo da adaptação portuguesa das escalas de depressão ansiedade stress de Lovibond e Lovibond. [Contribution to the adaptation study of the portuguese adaptation of the Lovibond and Lovibond depression anxiety stress scales] Psychologica, 36, 235246.Google Scholar
Pais-Ribeiro, J., Honrado, A., & Leal, I. (2004b). Contribuição para o estudo da adaptação portuguesa das escalas de ansiedade, depressão e stress (EADS) de 21 itens de Lovibond e Lovibond. [Contribution to the adaptation study of the portuguese adaptation of the Lovibond and Lovibond Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (EADS) with 21 items]. Psicologia, Saúde & Doenças, 5, 229239.Google Scholar
Pavot, W., & Diener, E. (1993). Review of the satisfaction with Life Scale. Psychological Assessment, 5, 164172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//1040-3590.5.2.164 Google Scholar
Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Dinis, A. (2006). The Portuguese version of the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Pinto-Gouveia, J., Dinis, A., Gregório, S., & Pinto, A. (2011). The Portuguese version of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire. Manuscript in preparation.Google Scholar
Pinto-Gouveia, J., & Gregório, S. (2010). The Portuguese version of the Toronto Mindfulness Scale. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Pinto-Gouveia, J., Gregório, S., Dinis, A., & Xavier, A. (2012). Experiential avoidance in clinical and non-clinical samples: AAQ-II Portuguese version. International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 12, 139156. Retrieved from http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=56023336002 Google Scholar
Roberts, J. E., Gilboa, E., & Gotlib, I. H. (1998). Ruminative response style and vulnerability to episodes of dysphoria: Gender, neuroticism, and episode duration. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 22, 401423. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018713313894 Google Scholar
Safran, J. D., & Segal, Z. V. (1990). Cognitive therapy: An interpersonal process perspective. New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Sauer, S., & Baer, R. (2010). Mindfulness and decentering as mechanisms of change in mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions. In Baer, R. (Ed.). Assessing mindfulness & acceptance processes in clients: Illuminating the theory and practice of change (pp. 2550). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.Google Scholar
Shapiro, S. L., Carlson, L. E., Astin, J. A., & Freedman, B. (2006). Mechanisms of mindfulness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62, 373386. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20237 Google Scholar
Segal, Z., Williams, J., & Teasdale, J. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therpy for depression: A new Approach to preventing relapse. New York, NY: Guilford.Google Scholar
Soler, J., Franquesa, A., Feliu-Soler, A., Cebolla, A., García-Campayo, J., Tejedor, R., … Portella, M. J. (2014). Assessing decentering: validation, psychometric properties, and clinical usefulness of the Experiences Questionnaire in a Spanish sample. Behavior Therapy, 45(6), 863871. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2014.05.004 Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B., & Fidell, L. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.Google Scholar
Teasdale, J. D., Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., Pope, M., Williams, S., & Segal, Z. V. (2002). Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 275287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-006X.70.2.275 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Treynor, W., Gonzalez, R., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2003). Rumination reconsidered: A psychometric analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 27, 247259. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1023910315561 Google Scholar
Warner, R. (2013). Applied statistics: From bivariate through multivariate techniques (2nd Ed.). New Hampshire, NH: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 10631070. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063 Google Scholar
Wheaton, B., Muthen, B., Alwin, D., & Summers, G. (1977). Assessing reliability and stability in panel models. Sociological Methodology, 8, 84136. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/270754 Google Scholar