The moderating role of experiential avoidance on the relationship between cognitive fusion and psychological distress among Iranian students

Experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion are two transdiagnostic constructs underpinning psychological distress. This study aimed to explore the moderating role of experiential avoidance on the association between cognitive fusion and psychological distress. The sample consisted of 297 college students who were randomly selected by cluster sampling method. Participants completed the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, and the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms. It was found that experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion accounted for a significant amount of variance in depression (R2 = .51). Furthermore, experiential avoidance moderated the relationship between cognitive fusion and depression; follow-up analysis showed that experiential avoidance had a buffering effect of cognitive fusion on depression. With regard to anxiety, findings showed experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion accounted for a significant amount of variance in anxiety symptoms (R2 = .42), but the interaction between experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion was not significant. The findings suggest that experiential avoidance may play a moderating role with regard to the relation of cognitive fusion and depression, but not anxiety.