ORCA General Oral Presentation Session (Virtual)
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Psychology
Minor
Minor
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Michael Bordieri, PhD
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, the sense of self as context, committed action, and values (Hayes et al., 2006). Valued living, or acting in line with personal values, includes behaviors that are personally meaningful and intrinsically engaging (Smout, et al., 2014). Behavior aligning with values has been related to lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as lower impairment for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms, pain, or other psychological stressors (Fox et al., 2019). Psychological flexibility, particularly low experiential avoidance, aids in valued living (Fox et al., 2019). Approaches such as ACT may further enable individuals to develop and pursue personal goals, combined with psychological flexibility and mindfulness to increase valued living (Fox et al., 2019).
Attitudes toward seeking mental health help include the recognition of need, tolerance of stigma, interpersonal openness, and confidence in mental health practitioners’ abilities. Mental health stigmas and self-concealment have been identified as predictors of help-seeking attitudes and openness (Masuda & Boone, 2011). Stigma and psychological inflexibility or avoidance of unpleasant thoughts predict psychological symptoms have been identified as negatively related to help-seeking attitudes (Masuda et al., 2017).
This study will evaluate impacts of psychological flexibility and distress in addition to progressive enactment of values on openness toward seeking mental health services. It is expected that psychological distress will be positively related to negative attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and that greater values progress will moderate this relationship and be related to greater openness to seeking help.
Keywords: values, psychological flexibility, barriers to help seeking, mental health services
Spring Scholars Week 2020 Event
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
Included in
Value-Aligned Behavior & Psychological Flexibility: Exploring Relationships between Seeking Mental Health Services and Core Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, the sense of self as context, committed action, and values (Hayes et al., 2006). Valued living, or acting in line with personal values, includes behaviors that are personally meaningful and intrinsically engaging (Smout, et al., 2014). Behavior aligning with values has been related to lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as lower impairment for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms, pain, or other psychological stressors (Fox et al., 2019). Psychological flexibility, particularly low experiential avoidance, aids in valued living (Fox et al., 2019). Approaches such as ACT may further enable individuals to develop and pursue personal goals, combined with psychological flexibility and mindfulness to increase valued living (Fox et al., 2019).
Attitudes toward seeking mental health help include the recognition of need, tolerance of stigma, interpersonal openness, and confidence in mental health practitioners’ abilities. Mental health stigmas and self-concealment have been identified as predictors of help-seeking attitudes and openness (Masuda & Boone, 2011). Stigma and psychological inflexibility or avoidance of unpleasant thoughts predict psychological symptoms have been identified as negatively related to help-seeking attitudes (Masuda et al., 2017).
This study will evaluate impacts of psychological flexibility and distress in addition to progressive enactment of values on openness toward seeking mental health services. It is expected that psychological distress will be positively related to negative attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and that greater values progress will moderate this relationship and be related to greater openness to seeking help.
Keywords: values, psychological flexibility, barriers to help seeking, mental health services