The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) is a measure of acceptance versus avoidance. You are encouraged to fill out the questionnaire in the beginning, around the middle, and at the end of your exposure work. Scores should change as your level of avoidance goes down.
Below you will find a list of statements. Please rate how true each statement is for you by circling a number next to it. Use the scale below to make your choice.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| never true | very seldom true | seldom true | sometimes true | frequently true | almost always true | always true |
|
1. My painful experiences and memories make it difficult for me to live a life that I would value. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
2. I’m afraid of my feelings. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
3. I worry about not being able to control my worries and feelings. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
4. My painful memories prevent me from having a fulfilling life. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
5. Emotions cause problems in my life. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
6. It seems like most people are handling their lives better than I am. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
7. Worries get in the way of my success. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
This is a one-factor measure of experiential avoidance. Score the scale by adding up the scores for the seven items. Higher scores equal greater levels of experiential avoidance.
Bond, F. W., S. C. Hayes, R. A. Baer, K. M. Carpenter, N. Guenole, H. K. Orcutt, T. Waltz, and R. D. Zettle. (2011). “Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42(4): 676-88.