Psychological (In)Flexibility Mediates the Effect of Loneliness on Psychological Stress. Evidence from a Large Sample of University Professors

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Abstract

Psychological stress, loneliness, and psychological inflexibility are associated with poorer mental health and professional performance in university teachers. However, the relationship between these variables is understudied. The aim of the present study is to analyze the mediating role of psychological (in)flexibility on the effect of loneliness on psychological stress. A total of 902 professors from 11 universities in Ecuador were analyzed using standardized scales: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) to assess psychological stress, the Loneliness Scale Revised-Short (UCLA-3) for loneliness, and the Avoidance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-7) and Life Engagement Test as double measures of psychological (in)flexibility. Mediation was tested by using PROCESS macro for SPSS. The results indicated that psychological flexibility mediated the relationship between loneliness and stress in university professors, regardless of sex and the measure of psychological (in)flexibility considered. The practical implications of the results are discussed herein.

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Most cited references 48

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The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

Reuben M. Baron, David A Kenny (1986)

In this article, we attempt to distinguish between the properties of moderator and mediator variables at a number of levels. First, we seek to make theorists and researchers aware of the importance of not using the terms moderator and mediator interchangeably by carefully elaborating, both conceptually and strategically, the many ways in which moderators and mediators differ. We then go beyond this largely pedagogical function and delineate the conceptual and strategic implications of making use of such distinctions with regard to a wide range of phenomena, including control and stress, attitudes, and personality traits. We also provide a specific compendium of analytic procedures appropriate for making the most effective use of the moderator and mediator distinction, both separately and in terms of a broader causal system that includes both moderators and mediators.

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Mary Hughes, Linda Waite, Louise C. Hawkley … (2004)

Most studies of social relationships in later life focus on the amount of social contact, not on individuals' perceptions of social isolation. However, loneliness is likely to be an important aspect of aging. A major limiting factor in studying loneliness has been the lack of a measure suitable for large-scale social surveys. This article describes a short loneliness scale developed specifically for use on a telephone survey. The scale has three items and a simplified set of response categories but appears to measure overall loneliness quite well. The authors also document the relationship between loneliness and several commonly used measures of objective social isolation. As expected, they find that objective and subjective isolation are related. However, the relationship is relatively modest, indicating that the quantitative and qualitative aspects of social relationships are distinct. This result suggests the importance of studying both dimensions of social relationships in the aging process.

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Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: a revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance.

Frank W Bond, Steven C. Hayes, Ruth A Baer … (2012)

The present research describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a second version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), which assesses the construct referred to as, variously, acceptance, experiential avoidance, and psychological inflexibility. Results from 2,816 participants across six samples indicate the satisfactory structure, reliability, and validity of this measure. For example, the mean alpha coefficient is .84 (.78-.88), and the 3- and 12-month test-retest reliability is .81 and .79, respectively. Results indicate that AAQ-II scores concurrently, longitudinally, and incrementally predict a range of outcomes, from mental health to work absence rates, that are consistent with its underlying theory. The AAQ-II also demonstrates appropriate discriminant validity. The AAQ-II appears to measure the same concept as the AAQ-I (r=.97) but with better psychometric consistency. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Paul Tchounwou: Role: Academic Editor

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Int J Environ Res Public Health

Journal ID (publisher-id): ijerph

Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Publisher: MDPI

ISSN (Print): 1661-7827

ISSN (Electronic): 1660-4601

Publication date (Electronic): 15 March 2021

Publication date Collection: March 2021

Volume: 18

Issue: 6

Electronic Location Identifier: 2992

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Psychology, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja 110107, Ecuador; mrramirez@ 123456utpl.edu.ec (M.d.R.R.); slvaca@ 123456utpl.edu.ec (S.V.G.)

[2 ]Department of Social Psychology, School of Labour Relations & Human Resources, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain; fdiazb@ 123456ugr.es

[3 ]Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, 31006 Pamplona, Spain; pablo.ruisoto@ 123456unavarra.es

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[* ]Correspondence: dmortega1@ 123456utpl.edu.ec ; Tel.: +593-988-888-784

Author information

David Ortega-Jiménez https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3483-9747

Pablo Ruisoto https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1252-0479

Francisco Díaz Bretones https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4981-1790

Marina del Rocío Ramírez https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9328-1707

Silvia Vaca Gallegos https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6333-0267

Article

Publisher ID: ijerph-18-02992

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062992

PMC ID: 8001878

SO-VID: 8559c2ce-27ca-4b3a-8fe2-08bd31db2055

License:

Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Psychological (In)Flexibility Mediates the Effect of Loneliness on Psychological Stress. Evidence from a Large Sample of University Professors

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Emerald: Healthier Lives

Most cited references 48

The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.

A Short Scale for Measuring Loneliness in Large Surveys: Results From Two Population-Based Studies.

Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: a revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance.

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