Cognitive theories of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) posit that cognitive and behavioural factors maintain the disorder. This study examined whether avoidance and safety behaviours mediated the relationship between cognitive factors and GAD symptoms. We also examined the reverse mediation model; that is, whether cognitive factors mediated the relationship between maladaptive behaviours and GAD symptoms. Undergraduate psychology students (N = 125 and N = 292) completed the Worry Behaviours Inventory (a recently developed measure of maladaptive behaviours associated with GAD), in addition to measures of intolerance of uncertainty, cognitive avoidance, metacognitive beliefs, and symptoms of GAD and depression. Analyses supported the reliability and validity of the WBI. We consistently found that engagement in maladaptive behaviours significantly mediated the relationship between cognitive factors and symptoms of GAD. The reverse mediation model was also supported. Our results are consistent with the contention that cognitive and behavioural factors contribute to GAD symptom severity.

中文翻译：

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不良行为、认知因素和广泛性焦虑症症状之间的中介关系

广泛性焦虑症 (GAD) 的认知理论认为认知和行为因素会维持这种疾病。本研究检验了回避和安全行为是否介导了认知因素与 GAD 症状之间的关系。我们还研究了反向中介模型；即认知因素是否介导了适应不良行为与GAD症状之间的关系。本科心理学学生（ñ= 125 和ñ= 292）完成了担忧行为量表（一种最近开发的与 GAD 相关的适应不良行为的测量方法），此外还测量了对不确定性、认知回避、元认知信念以及 GAD 和抑郁症状的不容忍度。分析支持 WBI 的信度和效度。我们一致发现，参与不适应行为显着介导了认知因素与 GAD 症状之间的关系。还支持反向中介模型。我们的结果与认知和行为因素导致 GAD 症状严重程度的论点一致。