Incremental validity of the contrast avoidance model: A comparison with intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation

• Published in: Journal of anxiety disorders 2023-04, Vol.95, p.102699-102699, Article 102699
• Main Authors: Llera, Sandra J., Newman, Michelle G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Contrast avoidance; Emotions; Generalized anxiety disorder; Humans; Incremental validity; Intolerance of uncertainty; Negative problem orientation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Uncertainty
• ISSN: 0887-6185; 1873-7897
• DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102699

This study examined the incremental validity of the Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM) in predicting generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms when compared against well-established constructs in the GAD literature: intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and negative problem orientation (NPO). In this study, 185 students (108 of whom endorsed clinical levels of GAD symptoms) completed questionnaires to assess for all constructs. GAD symptoms were regressed on measures of contrast avoidance (CA; Contrast Avoidance-General Emotion and Contrast Avoidance-Worry Questionnaires; Llera & Newman, 2017) tendencies in addition to measures of IU and NPO in separate analyses. Commonality analyses explored the unique versus overlapping contributions of each factor in explaining GAD symptoms. In all models, CA was a significant predictor after controlling for demographic variables (age, gender, race, and ethnicity) and both IU and NPO. This was also true when excluding CA items referencing worry. All variables contributed unique explanatory power in the prediction of GAD. Results provide evidence of the incremental validity of the CAM as a model of GAD. •The Contrast Avoidance Model (CAM) has not yet been tested for its incremental validity.•Established constructs (Intolerance of Uncertainty [IU] and negative problem orientation [NPO]) reliably predict GAD.•CA predicted GAD symptoms while controlling for IU and NPO separately.•CA, IU, and NPO each contributed uniquely to the variance explained in GAD symptoms.•Results support the incremental validity of the CAM.