The Turkish adaptation of Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire and its psychometric properties

The aim of the current study was to adapt the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire, which allows to assess various experiential avoidance strategies, into Turkish and to examine its psychometric properties in a non-clinical sample. The study was carried out with 407 volunteer participants (281 female and 126 male) between the ages of 18 and 40 years. In this study, Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, Positive and Negative Affect Scale and Flourishing Scale were administered to the participants. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed that Turkish version of the scale included 59 items along 5 dimensions, named as Avoidance, Distraction/Suppression, Distress Endurance, Procrastination and Repression/ Denial. Total scale and its subscales demonstrated good internal consistencies. In terms of the validity properties, Turkish version of the scale was significantly correlated with psychological inflexibility, mindfulness, psychological wellbeing, also positive and negative affect in expected directions. Additionally, regression analysis indicated that different experiential avoidance strategies predicted psychological wellbeing above and beyond existing measures of psychological inflexibility and mindfulness. Overall findings of the study demonstrated that Turkish version of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument to assess different forms of experiential avoidance.