Anxiety and Experiential Avoidance Among University Students: The Serial Mediating Role of Optimism and Self-Compassion

This research aims to investigate the serial mediating role of optimism and self-compassion between anxiety and experiential avoidance among university students. A total of 411 university students participated in the research, with 263 (64%) being female and 148 (36%) being male. According to the results of the mediation analysis, it was seen that both optimism and self-compassion had mediating roles in the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance. In addition, it was concluded that the serial mediating role of optimism and self-compassion in the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance was significant. The mediation findings obtained in the study reveal that high levels of optimism and self-compassion in university students can help them cope better with anxious situations, reduce their anxiety levels, and therefore reduce experiential avoidance tendencies. This study highlights significant findings regarding the mechanism underlying the relationship between anxiety and experiential avoidance, particularly concerning positive variables.