Reducing contrast avoidance in GAD by savoring positive emotions: Outcome and mediation in a randomized controlled trial

This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined whether contrast avoidance (CA) in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) could be reduced through savoring—purposeful engagement with positive emotions. 85 participants were diagnosed with GAD by both clinical interview and questionnaire. They were then randomly assigned to one of two seven-day smartphone-delivered ecological momentary interventions (EMIs). The SkillJoy EMI facilitated in-the-moment practice of savoring positive emotions in participants’ daily lives. The active self-monitoring control (ASM) was nearly identical to SkillJoy in ratings, activities, and language, yet omitted specific attention to positive emotion and savoring. CA was assessed by questionnaire at pre-trial and eighth day post-trial. Savoring was assessed by questionnaire at pre-trial and fifth day mid-trial. Longitudinal linear mixed models and simple slope analyses examined CA change between and within conditions. Bias-corrected boot strapping path analysis with individuals’ CA slopes extracted from a multilevel model examined mediation by savoring. Results showed that SkillJoy led to significant reductions in CA, whereas the ASM control did not. The relation between treatment condition and reductions in CA was mediated by increases in savoring from pre- to mid-trial. It may be possible for treatment to meaningfully reduce CA in GAD, specifically through savoring practices.

© This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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Work Title Reducing contrast avoidance in GAD by savoring positive emotions: Outcome and mediation in a randomized controlled trial
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Lucas S. LaFreniere
  2. Michele G. Newman
Keyword
  1. Contrast avoidance
  2. Generalized anxiety disorder
  3. Savoring
  4. Positive emotion
  5. Worry
License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Publication Date December 13, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102659
Deposited February 17, 2023

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Version 1
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  • Created
  • Added LaFreniere-in_p-Engaging_positive_emotion_to_r.pdf
  • Added Creator Lucas S. LaFreniere
  • Added Creator Michele G. Newman
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publication Date Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Contrast avoidance, Generalized anxiety disorder, Savoring, Positive emotion, Worry
    Publication Date
    • 2023-01-01
    • 2022-12-13
  • Updated