(PS5-74) Navigating Emotional Landscapes: The Role of Experiential Avoidance in Shaping Irritability over Time

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescents is often characterized by heightened emotional reactivity, such as irritability, along with experiential avoidance (EA). EA, the tendency to avoid negative, internal experiences, is posited to exacerbate emotional distress. Since irritability is typically marked by approach behaviors (yelling, fighting, etc.) and EA is marked by avoidance behaviors, empirical evidence elucidating the dynamic between the two over time remains unexplored in youth samples. This study leverages ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data, gathered within the context of evidence-based psychotherapy for adolescent depression, to understand the interplay between EA and irritability.

Method: Adolescents diagnosed with MDD provided data through four daily prompts over the course of 30 days, yielding 840 total observations. We constructed a latent variable for EA based on six observed indicators (e.g., hide real thoughts/feelings, procrastination, avoidance behavior, procrastination). Multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) was employed to analyze the temporal dynamics between EA and annoyed irritability, accounting for the nested structure of observations within individuals.

Results: The model revealed significant factor loadings for EA indicators, suggesting a coherent latent construct. The regression of irritability on EA was significant, indicating a positive relation between EA and subsequent irritability. Autoregressive effects for EA indicators and irritability were significant, denoting stability over time.

Conclusion: These findings underscore the significant, positive association between EA and irritability in over time, supporting theoretical assertions about the maladaptive role of EA in emotional regulation. The study's implications highlight the importance of addressing EA in interventions aiming to mitigate emotional reactivity. We aim to further illustrate the temporal dynamics of EA and emotional reactivity as we continue with data collection.