ORCID

Abstract

Objective: Hypervigilance is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder usually defined in terms of behaviours such as environment scanning and planning escape routes. The objective of Study 1 was to develop a new measure to assess the extent to which individuals employ a specifically emotional form of hypervigilance. The aim of Study 2 was to investigate whether emotional hypervigilance is associated with posttraumatic quality of life in addition to the known effects of symptoms and experiential avoidance. Method: Study 1 presents the development and initial testing (N = 275) of the Emotional Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (EVAQ). In Study 2, a non-clinical sample (N = 162) completed an online survey comprising the EVAQ, measures of posttraumatic symptoms (PTS), posttraumatic quality of life (PTQ) and experiential avoidance.Results: In Study 1, factor analyses resulted in a 12-item scale which showed good psychometric properties in unifactorial and three factorial forms. Subscales reflected vigilance to Emotion Change (EC), Emotion Awareness (EA) and conscious Emotion Monitoring (EM). The EVAQ showed incremental validity against the Brief Hypervigilance Questionnaire and positive associations with established measures of low mood and negative affect. In Study 2, EVAQ scores showed significant associations with experiential avoidance and PTQ. Conclusions: The EVAQ is a valid and reliable new measure for assessing hypervigilance and hyperawareness of emotion, an overlooked factor in posttraumatic symptomology, particularly when considered as a unifactorial construct. The EVAQ may be useful in research and therapeutic settings with individuals who disengage with distressing emotions and present avoidant behaviour.

Publication Date

2025-11-06

Publication Title

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

ISSN

1942-9681

Acceptance Date

2025-09-02

Deposit Date

2025-09-03

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