The mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between experiential avoidance and psychological distress

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between experiential avoidance and psychological distress (depression and anxiety).
The study design was dyscriptive correlational type and statistic population of study consisted of all residents of Karaj city seven region with the quantity of 124688 in 2016. With randomized sampling Alghadir, Azadi and Gole Narges parks and finally 300 people who were eligible to enter the study were selected. The tool study consisted of multidimensional experiential avoidance questionnaire by Gámez, Chmielewski, Kotov, Ruggero & Watson (2011), interpersonal difficulties scale-47 by Pilkonis, Kim, Proietti & Barkham (1996), Beck depression scale by Beck, Steer & Brown (1996) and Beck anxiety scale by Beck, Epstein, Brown & Steer (1988). After 90 questionnaires were excluded of the research process because of the distortion, structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data of 250 subjects.
Indirect path coefficients between behavioral avoidance (β= 0.151, P=0.016), distraction/suppression (β= 0.151, P=0.021), distress aversion (β= 0.270, P=0.001), distress endurance (β= 0.161, P=0.005) components with psychological distress were significant.
Interpersonal difficulty arises from strategy, characterized by avoidance of some thoughts, memories and activities and is followed by depression and anxiety in long term. Interpersonal problems may affect respond to treatment in people with depression and anxiety, therefore the focus on experiential avoidance seems necessary.