The role of experimental avoidance, emotional regulation difficulties, and body image concern in predicting the probability of suicide among adolescent girls

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is one of the mental health problems and the third leading cause of death among adolescents. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of experimental avoidance, emotional regulation difficulties, and body image concern in predicting the probability of suicide among adolescent girls. Method: The method of the present study was descriptive of the type of correlation and the statistical population included all adolescent girls in Kermanshah City in 2019. By available sampling method and based on Morgan table, 350 people were selected as a sample. The research instruments included the adolescents Suicide Questionnaire, the Bond et al. Experimental Avoidance Questionnaire, the Grater and Roemer Emotional Regulation Difficulties Scale, and the Lillton body image concern questionnaire, all of which were valid and reliable. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used simultaneously, which were finally analyzed by SPSS software version 22. Results: The results showed that experimental avoidance, emotional regulation difficulties components (except lack of emotional awareness), and body image concern had a significant effect on the probability of suicide (P>0.001). The results of the analysis also showed that the predictor variables together can accurately determine the 27.7% the probability of suicide. Conclusion: The probability of suicide in adolescent girls can be predicted by the variables of experimental avoidance, emotional regulation difficulties, and body image concern. Therefore, it is suggested that psychologists and counselors pay attention to the role of experimental avoidance, emotional regulation difficulties, and body image concern to reduce adolescent's suicide.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Experiential Avoidance and Post-Traumatic Growth in Sexually Abused Girls

“…The average Cronbach's alpha coefficient for clinical and nonclinical groups was 0.84 to 0.88, and the 3-and 12-month retest validity was 0.81 and 0.87, respectively. In Iran, the Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of this questionnaire is 0.86 (Vafapoor et al, 2021). The reliability of the questionnaire in the present study was determined by Cronbach's alpha method at 0.91.…”

“…Experiential avoidance is defined as the unwillingness to remain in contact with unpleasant inner experiences (e.g., thoughts, feelings) accompanied by attempts to alter the form, frequency, or occurrence of experiences or situations that elicit those experiences (Chou et al, 2022). This construct includes two components: the first component is the reluctance to make contact with painful experiences, and the second component is the effort to avoid painful experiences or events that trigger these experiences (Vafapoor et al, 2021); and it is an important factor for various psychopathologies such as self-harm thoughts and behaviors, and is associated with increased mental distress during stress, emotional reactions, and communication problems (Leonidou & Panayiotou, 2022). In this context, Roush et al (2019) stated that experiential avoidance is a process through which emotional turmoil and distress in an individual are accelerated, so that the person tries to end the urgent feeling of hopelessness and unbearable suffering by committing suicide (Roush et al, 2019).…”