The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship between Experiential Avoidance and Emotional Disorders in Community Mental Health Patients

Span J Psychol. 2025 Oct 20;28:e21. doi: 10.1017/SJP.2025.10006.

ABSTRACT

Given the growing global prevalence and significant impact of depression and anxiety, both in general and within the workplace, understanding the underlying mechanisms contributing to emotional disorders is essential. This study examined whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between experiential avoidance and emotional disorders, focusing on depression and anxiety. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 174 outpatients from a community mental health center, who completed self-report measures of experiential avoidance, self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. We used the PROCESS macro for mediation analysis, and the results indicated that self-esteem significantly mediated the relationship between experiential avoidance and both depression and anxiety. We analyzed the mediation model within the framework of self-determination theory, which suggested that interventions aimed at reducing experiential avoidance and enhancing self-esteem could be effective for emotional disorders. In this study, we highlight the importance of addressing both experiential avoidance and self-esteem in the therapeutic context. We also discuss implications for clinical practice and limitations of the current study.

PMID:41111314 | DOI:10.1017/SJP.2025.10006