Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index – Chinese Version

Description

Psychological flexibility (心理灵活性) refers to an individual’s ability to fully engage with the present moment, facing and experiencing internal experiences without defensiveness, allowing them to exist as they are, and to make choices, persist, or change behavior guided by values. In simple terms, despite experiencing distress, individuals still pursue valuable goals. According to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (接纳承诺疗法, ACT), psychological flexibility comprises six processes: acceptance (接纳), cognitive defusion (认知解离), present-moment awareness (接触当下), self-as-context (以己为景), values clarification (明确价值), and committed action (承诺行动). Psychological flexibility is the core and ultimate goal of ACT. Research indicates that psychological flexibility is related to various outcomes of individual adaptability (like physical health, quality of life, and well-being), with a tighter relationship under stress or challenging conditions. Conversely, psychological inflexibility (心理僵化) can lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and sleep disturbances.

Authors and Contact Email

Zhao Di et al. – information not available

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index (PPFI) is to assess psychological flexibility in a way that integrates specific contexts and populations, allowing individuals to focus on specific goals and consider the situational and personalized nature of psychological flexibility.

Test Year

The test was developed and validated recently; specific test years may vary, but it has been verified in samples in the United States and Chinese contexts.

Administration Method and Scoring

The PPFI is a self-report questionnaire administered via a 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). The total score is the sum of all item responses, with higher scores indicating higher levels of psychological flexibility.

Reliability and Validity

The PPFI has demonstrated good reliability and validity in various samples, particularly in college students and breast cancer patients. The overall internal consistency coefficient for the total scale in these populations is 0.88 and 0.83, respectively. The internal consistency coefficients for individual dimensions range from 0.75 to 0.89, while the test-retest reliability ranges from 0.36 to 0.56.

Factors and Subscales

The PPFI consists of three dimensions:
– 回避 (Avoidance)
– 接纳 (Acceptance)
– 掌控 (Control)

Keywords

– Psychological flexibility
– Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
– Mental health
– PPFI
– Validity and reliability

Items in Chinese

1. 我会回避完成目标过程中最困难的任务
2. 当有更吸引人的目标时，我会放下当下的目标
3. 当感到压力时，我就会放弃当下的目标
4. 我过分关注自己的想法和感受，导致无法继续完成目标
5. 当我受挫时，我就会放弃当下的目标
6. 在完成目标的过程中，我能接受挫折
7. 在完成目标的过程中，我尝试接受自己的消极想法和感受，而不是排斥它们
8. 在完成目标的过程中，我愿意体验其中的消极想法和情绪
9. 在完成目标的过程中，我能接受一些改变不了的事情
10. 在完成目标的过程中，我能觉察到不愉快的感受，而不会陷入其中
11. 当完成目标遇到障碍时，我会越挫越勇
12. 在完成目标的过程中，我发现焦虑有时会有助于问题解决
13. 当目标受阻时，我会尽我所能坚持下去
14. 当没有达到预期目标时，我会知耻而后勇
15. 在完成目标的过程中，我发现不愉快的情绪有时也是有用的

Items in English

1. I avoid the most difficult tasks in the process of achieving goals.
2. When there are more appealing goals, I let go of the current goals.
3. I abandon current goals when feeling pressured.
4. I overly focus on my thoughts and feelings, which prevents me from continuing to achieve my goals.
5. I give up on current goals when I am frustrated.
6. I can accept setbacks in the process of achieving goals.
7. I try to accept my negative thoughts and feelings instead of rejecting them during the goal pursuit.
8. I am willing to experience negative thoughts and emotions in the process of achieving goals.
9. I can accept certain things that cannot be changed in the process of achieving goals.
10. I can notice unpleasant feelings without getting trapped in them while pursuing goals.
11. When encountering obstacles while completing my goals, I become more resilient.
12. In the process of achieving goals, I find that anxiety can sometimes be helpful for problem-solving.
13. When my goals are obstructed, I will persevere as best as I can.
14. When I do not achieve my expected goals, I will redouble my efforts.
15. In the process of achieving goals, I find that unpleasant emotions can sometimes be useful.

References

赵迪,李国鹏,赵香玉,等.个性化心理灵活性指数中文版在大学生和乳腺癌患者中的信效度检验[J].中国临床心理学杂志,2024,32(04):882-886.DOI:10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2024.04.029.
Kashdan, T.B., Disabato, D.J., Goodman, F.R., Doorley, J.D., & McKnight, P.E. (2020). Understanding psychological flexibility: A multimethod exploration of pursuing valued goals despite the presence of distress. Psychological assessment.