Defining and measuring "psychological flexibility": A narrative scoping review of diverse flexibility and rigidity constructs and perspectives.

Psychological flexibility (PF) is a popular construct in clinical psychology. However, similar constructs have existed since the mid-20th century, resulting in different terms, definitions and measures of flexibility, hindering the advancement of the field. The main measure of PF - the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II; Bond et al., 2011) - has also been heavily criticized. To move towards definitional consensus and improved measurement, we surveyed the literature to map PF and related-terms, examine definitional overlaps, and assessthe psychometric quality of prominent flexibility measures. A scoping review was conducted in two databases (PsycNET and SCOPUS). Twenty-three flexibility constructs appeared across 220 articles, and twelve measures were included and rated for quality. PF, psychological inflexibility (PI), and cognitive flexibility (CF) were most prominent. Definitional similarities among prominent flexibility constructs emerged, namely handling distress or interference, taking action, and meeting goals or values. The Personalized Psychological Flexibility Index (PPFI; Kashdan, Disabato, Goodman, Doorley, & McKnight, 2020) appears to be the best measure available to assess PF. Problems with the current use of the AAQ-II were apparent, hindering current knowledge of PF. Definitional consensus and measurement development are vital to advance the field. To this end, recommendations and next steps for researchers and practitioners are outlined.

An Exploration of Positive Parenting in Relation to Psychopathology for Youth with a Diagnosis of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar Spectrum Disorder (BSD) is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with a host of deleterious sequelae. While researchers have found a robust link between parenting variables and psychopathology for youth with BSD, few have examined positive parenting factors and associated psychopathology for these youth. Furthermore, conclusions from extant literature are hindered by a) exploring a limited range of parenting variables and b) employing retrospective reports of parenting with adult populations. This study addressed these gaps by examining how a range of contemporaneously-measured positive parenting variables were related to psychopathology among youth with a BSD diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred fifty families with a youth aged 5-16 years participated in this study and completed screening for a mood disorder through a tertiary care facility. Participants completed measures of depression, mania, behavioural difficulties, and the parent-child relationship. RESULTS: Parental characteristics (limit setting, autonomy granting, egalitarian views) were related to lower levels of psychopathology for youth screened for BSD. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results from this study contribute to our understanding of the relation between positive parenting characteristics and psychopathology for youth with a diagnosis of BSD.

OBJECTIF: Le trouble du spectre bipolaire (TSB) est un trouble psychiatrique grave associé à une panoplie de séquelles nuisibles. Même si les chercheurs ont constaté un lien robuste entre les variables de la parentalité et la psychopathologie pour les adolescents souffrant de TSB, peu ont examiné les facteurs parentaux positifs et la psychopathologie associée pour ces adolescents. En outre, les conclusions de la littérature existante sont entravées par a) l'exploration d'une gamme limitée de variables parentales et b) l'emploi d'études rétrospectives de parentalité avec des populations adultes. La présente étude a abordé ces lacunes en examinant comment une gamme de variables parentales positives mesurées simultanément était liée à la psychopathologie chez les adolescents ayant reçu un diagnostic de TSB. MÉTHODES: Cent cinquante familles ayant un enfant de 5 à 16 ans ont participé à cette étude et subi un dépistage du trouble de l'humeur dans un établissement de soins tertiaires. Les participants ont répondu à des mesures de dépression, de manie, de difficultés comportementales, et de la relation parent-enfant. RÉSULTATS: Les caractéristiques parentales (établissement de limites, octroi d'autonomie, points de vue égalitaires) étaient liées à des niveaux plus faibles de psychopathologie pour les adolescents ayant subi un dépistage du TSB. CONCLUSIONS: Dans leur ensemble, les résultats de cette étude contribuent à notre compréhension de la relation entre les caractéristiques parentales positives et la psychopathologie des adolescents ayant reçu un diagnostic de TSB.