The mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between psychiatric symptoms, intolerance of uncertanity and perfectionism

In this study, the mediating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and intolerance of uncertainty and maladaptive perfectionism was examined using the structural equation model. The study was conducted with 221 volunteering participants aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobia, illness anxiety, major depression, comorbid anxiety depression and other-specified anxiety disorder. The results showed that experiential avoidance fully mediated the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and intolerance to uncertainty and maladaptive perfectionism. An increase in intolerance of uncertainty and maladaptive perfectionism resulted in an increase in experiential avoidance, which led to an increase in psychiatric symptoms. The model explained 55% of the variance in experiential avoidance and 63% of the variance in psychiatric symptoms. These findings supported the transdiagnostic role of experiential avoidance and showed that experiential avoidance is closely related to various psychopathologies and clinical problems. These findings suggested that a focus on experiential avoidance in clinical evaluations and treatment will increase the efficacy of treatments. The research findings were discussed in the context of the literature and recommendations were offered for clinical practice. Key Words: Experiential Avoidance, Intolerance of Uncertainty, Perfectionism, Psychiatric Symptoms, Transdiagnostic Approach