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The influence of mindfulness, self‐compassion, psychological flexibility, and posttraumatic stress disorder on disability and quality of life over time in war veterans
Author(s) -
Meyer Eric C.,
Frankfurt Sheila B.,
Kimbrel Nathan A.,
DeBeer Bryann B.,
Gulliver Suzy B.,
Morrisette Sandra B.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.22596
Subject(s) - mindfulness , psychology , clinical psychology , self compassion , psychological intervention , quality of life (healthcare) , flexibility (engineering) , acceptance and commitment therapy , posttraumatic stress , multilevel model , psychiatry , psychotherapist , intervention (counseling) , statistics , mathematics , machine learning , computer science
Abstract Objectives Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) strongly predicts greater disability and lower quality of life (QOL). Mindfulness‐based and other third‐wave behavior therapy interventions improve well‐being by enhancing mindfulness, self‐compassion, and psychological flexibility. We hypothesized that these mechanisms of therapeutic change would comprise a single latent factor that would predict disability and QOL after accounting for PTSD symptom severity. Method Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans ( N = 117) completed a study of predictors of successful reintegration. Principal axis factor analysis tested whether mindfulness, self‐compassion, and psychological flexibility comprised a single latent factor. Hierarchical regression tested whether this factor predicted disability and QOL 1 year later. Results Mindfulness, self‐compassion, and psychological flexibility comprised a single factor that predicted disability and QOL after accounting for PTSD symptom severity. PTSD symptoms remained a significant predictor of disability but not QOL. Conclusions Targeting these mechanisms may help veterans achieve functional recovery, even in the presence of PTSD symptoms.