This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACT Matrix in enhancing values-based behaviors and psychological flexibility among special education teachers, with a focus on alleviating self-reported stress and burnout. Using a mixed concurrent and non-concurrent multiple probe design, data were collected on in-session and out-session value-driven behaviors. In-session data were documented via a paper copy of the ACT Matrix, while out-session data were captured through a mobile application. The training spanned five weekly sessions, followed by a two-week post-study phase with continued data collection. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and during follow-up, focusing on burnout, stress, and psychological flexibility. Results indicated successful increases in the identification of both toward and away moves during sessions. Notably, out-session results showed a significant increase in toward moves for two participants, alongside a consistent decrease in avoidance behaviors, suggesting a sustainable impact of the training beyond the immediate intervention. Psychological flexibility and stress measures improved markedly from baseline to intervention for two participants, while burnout effects were mixed. Participants also rated the training as socially valid. The study discusses the implications of using ACT to reduce stress and burnout within behavior analysis framework.
{"title":"Transforming strain into strength: Alleviating stress and burnout in special education teachers with ACT matrix intervention","authors":"Melissa Diaz , Yors Garcia , Tyler Ré , Thomas Szabo","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACT Matrix in enhancing values-based behaviors and psychological flexibility among special education teachers, with a focus on alleviating self-reported stress and burnout. Using a mixed concurrent and non-concurrent multiple probe design, data were collected on in-session and out-session value-driven behaviors. In-session data were documented via a paper copy of the ACT Matrix, while out-session data were captured through a mobile application. The training spanned five weekly sessions, followed by a two-week post-study phase with continued data collection. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and during follow-up, focusing on burnout, stress, and psychological flexibility. Results indicated successful increases in the identification of both toward and away moves during sessions. Notably, out-session results showed a significant increase in toward moves for two participants, alongside a consistent decrease in avoidance behaviors, suggesting a sustainable impact of the training beyond the immediate intervention. Psychological flexibility and stress measures improved markedly from baseline to intervention for two participants, while burnout effects were mixed. Participants also rated the training as socially valid. The study discusses the implications of using ACT to reduce stress and burnout within behavior analysis framework.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100870"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100867
Jorge Barraca , Thomas Polanski , Andrea Duarte-Díaz , Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez
Couple interventions have a long tradition, yet their effectiveness is generally less well-known than that of individual therapies, particularly within contextual therapies. Although Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has already gathered significant evidence of effectiveness in various psychological health problems and disorders, its application in the context of couple therapy has not been thoroughly analyzed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, involving a total of 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), examining effectiveness in various areas of couple functioning. The analyses revealed that ACT was more effective than passive control groups for alexithymia, anxiety, communication skills, fertility quality of life, marital intimacy, marital satisfaction, psychological well-being, physical health, and relational social functioning. It did not, however, have any significant effect on marital burnout, marital conflict, or conflict resolution. ACT was also effective in post-traumatic stress disorder, but in a joint intervention with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). When compared with active controls, ACT was sometimes similar and sometimes inferior in results. For instance, ACT, Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), and CBCT all increased marital intimacy, but with no significant difference between them (g = −0.26, 95% CI: −0.98, 0.46; I2 = 0%). ACT, IBCT and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) also all helped social functioning, and EFCT and ACT both fostered forgiveness. However, CBCT was clearly superior to ACT in improving marital satisfaction (g = −1.23, 95% CI: −1.86, −0.59; I2 = 0%) and ACT was also beaten out by Schema Therapy for fostering forgiveness. Imago therapy seems to help anxiety more than ACT while ACT helped more with physical health. The RCTs included in the review exhibit a significant series of biases and limitations, which were analyzed in detail. Taking these limitations into account, although ACT can be a promising therapy for some couple difficulties, it still needs to gather more evidence of effectiveness with new, better-controlled studies, carried out in a wider variety of countries and cultures, with well-defined protocols and comparisons with active controls like EFCT, IBCT, and CBCT, all of which have more empirical support.
{"title":"Acceptance and commitment therapy for couples: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Jorge Barraca , Thomas Polanski , Andrea Duarte-Díaz , Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Couple interventions have a long tradition, yet their effectiveness is generally less well-known than that of individual therapies, particularly within contextual therapies. Although Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has already gathered significant evidence of effectiveness in various psychological health problems and disorders, its application in the context of couple therapy has not been thoroughly analyzed. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, involving a total of 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), examining effectiveness in various areas of couple functioning. The analyses revealed that ACT was more effective than passive control groups for alexithymia, anxiety, communication skills, fertility quality of life, marital intimacy, marital satisfaction, psychological well-being, physical health, and relational social functioning. It did not, however, have any significant effect on marital burnout, marital conflict, or conflict resolution. ACT was also effective in post-traumatic stress disorder, but in a joint intervention with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). When compared with active controls, ACT was sometimes similar and sometimes inferior in results. For instance, ACT, Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), and CBCT all increased marital intimacy, but with no significant difference between them (<em>g</em> = −0.26, 95% CI: −0.98, 0.46; I<sup>2</sup> = 0%). ACT, IBCT and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) also all helped social functioning, and EFCT and ACT both fostered forgiveness. However, CBCT was clearly superior to ACT in improving marital satisfaction (<em>g</em> = −1.23, 95% CI: −1.86, −0.59; I<sup>2</sup> = 0%) and ACT was also beaten out by Schema Therapy for fostering forgiveness. Imago therapy seems to help anxiety more than ACT while ACT helped more with physical health. The RCTs included in the review exhibit a significant series of biases and limitations, which were analyzed in detail. Taking these limitations into account, although ACT can be a promising therapy for some couple difficulties, it still needs to gather more evidence of effectiveness with new, better-controlled studies, carried out in a wider variety of countries and cultures, with well-defined protocols and comparisons with active controls like EFCT, IBCT, and CBCT, all of which have more empirical support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100867"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174505","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological inflexibility (PI) are two contrasting concepts central in acceptance and commitment therapy. The multidimensional psychological flexibility inventory (MPFI) could comprehensively assess the 12 factors of PF and PI, thus providing a measure to examine their internal relationships. In the current study, we used the cross-lagged panel network approach to explore the longitudinal associations between the 12 PF/PI components. A sample of 447 Chinese adults (mean age = 31.19, SD = 6.41) completed an online survey at two timepoints. The cross-sectional network revealed the central roles of self-as-context, defusion, fusion and experiential avoidance. The cross-lagged panel network revealed that fusion, committed action, and self-as-context were influential nodes on other dimensions, whereas inaction and defusion had high levels of predictability. The current findings shed new light on the internal structure of the PF/PI components, and elucidated nodes that were central in the cross-sectional status and longitudinal changes. The identified nodes may help inform clinicians of potential loci for intervention, and clarify the theoretical connections within the complex network of psychological flexibility processes.
{"title":"Longitudinal associations between psychological flexibility and inflexibility dimensions: A cross-lagged panel network analysis","authors":"Wei (Gabriel) Qi , Jie Wen , Zhiwei Zhou, Miao Miao","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psychological flexibility (PF) and psychological inflexibility (PI) are two contrasting concepts central in acceptance and commitment therapy. The multidimensional psychological flexibility inventory (MPFI) could comprehensively assess the 12 factors of PF and PI, thus providing a measure to examine their internal relationships. In the current study, we used the cross-lagged panel network approach to explore the longitudinal associations between the 12 PF/PI components. A sample of 447 Chinese adults (mean age = 31.19, <em>SD</em> = 6.41) completed an online survey at two timepoints. The cross-sectional network revealed the central roles of self-as-context, defusion, fusion and experiential avoidance. The cross-lagged panel network revealed that fusion, committed action, and self-as-context were influential nodes on other dimensions, whereas inaction and defusion had high levels of predictability. The current findings shed new light on the internal structure of the PF/PI components, and elucidated nodes that were central in the cross-sectional status and longitudinal changes. The identified nodes may help inform clinicians of potential loci for intervention, and clarify the theoretical connections within the complex network of psychological flexibility processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100877"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100872
Clarissa W. Ong , Alexa M. Skolnik , Hannah M. Johnson , Eric B. Lee
Psychological inflexibility and flexibility are central to the model of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). As such, it is critical to assess these constructs accurately and reliably to provide robust tests of ACT theory. One measurement aspect to consider is the content covered by scales purported to assess the same construct. The present study provides a description of content included in nine psychological flexibility and inflexibility scales and evaluates the degree of content overlap across scales using the Jaccard Index. Overall, we found that the scales overwhelmingly focused on internal experiences (78.5% of items), with the most common type being emotions/feelings (41.1%) and thoughts (28.2%). In addition, the Jaccard Index indicated very weak overlap with respect to item content, suggesting that the constructs of psychological flexibility and inflexibility are measured inconsistently, compromising our ability to pool data from different studies. The Comprehensive Assessment of ACT Processes (CompACT) and Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) had the highest mean overlap scores. Despite broad consensus, the lack of overlap when considering precise categories and item content underscores the need to clarify definitions of psychological flexibility and inflexibility for measurement and practice greater transparency when reporting on study measures.
{"title":"Examining item content across nine psychological (in)flexibility scales: What do they measure?","authors":"Clarissa W. Ong , Alexa M. Skolnik , Hannah M. Johnson , Eric B. Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psychological inflexibility and flexibility are central to the model of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). As such, it is critical to assess these constructs accurately and reliably to provide robust tests of ACT theory. One measurement aspect to consider is the content covered by scales purported to assess the same construct. The present study provides a description of content included in nine psychological flexibility and inflexibility scales and evaluates the degree of content overlap across scales using the Jaccard Index. Overall, we found that the scales overwhelmingly focused on internal experiences (78.5% of items), with the most common type being emotions/feelings (41.1%) and thoughts (28.2%). In addition, the Jaccard Index indicated very weak overlap with respect to item content, suggesting that the constructs of psychological flexibility and inflexibility are measured inconsistently, compromising our ability to pool data from different studies. The Comprehensive Assessment of ACT Processes (CompACT) and Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) had the highest mean overlap scores. Despite broad consensus, the lack of overlap when considering precise categories and item content underscores the need to clarify definitions of psychological flexibility and inflexibility for measurement and practice greater transparency when reporting on study measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100872"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100871
Emma Ryan, Denisha O'Neill, Sinéad Smyth
Background
Sleep has been recognised as a growing health concern, with research suggesting a link between psychological flexibility, a core concept in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and sleep-related outcomes. While previous work has outlined correlational associations, the complexity of these relationships remains poorly understood. Our systematic review aims to comprehensively elucidate the nuanced interplay between psychological flexibility and sleep health alongside implications of their relationships across diverse populations.
Methods
We carried out searches in four electronic databases (PsycInfo, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL) on February 9th, 2024. Following title and abstract screening, 209 full texts were screened and 29 studies that met our inclusion criteria were identified. A narrative synthesis was conducted to synthesise data from the included studies.
Results
Psychological flexibility was identified as an important predictor of sleep health, with acceptance and cognitive defusion emerging as particularly critical components of psychological flexibility. The majority of studies examined psychological flexibility as a predictor, mediator, and moderator, with a minority exploring the role of sleep as a risk and protective factor. Moreover, there was evidence of additional risk factors beyond flexibility, namely anxiety sensitivity dimensions, in predicting poor sleep-related outcomes.
Conclusion
Our review highlights the complexity of the relationships between psychological flexibility and sleep health. Despite measurement considerations impacting the interpretation of findings, our results provide foundations for future research endeavours aimed at refining theoretical models, designing targeted interventions, and ultimately improving sleep health, psychological flexibility, and mental well-being for individuals facing various psychological and physiological challenges.
{"title":"A systematic review and narrative synthesis of the complex interplay between psychological flexibility and sleep health","authors":"Emma Ryan, Denisha O'Neill, Sinéad Smyth","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2025.100871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Sleep has been recognised as a growing health concern, with research suggesting a link between psychological flexibility, a core concept in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and sleep-related outcomes. While previous work has outlined correlational associations, the complexity of these relationships remains poorly understood. Our systematic review aims to comprehensively elucidate the nuanced interplay between psychological flexibility and sleep health alongside implications of their relationships across diverse populations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We carried out searches in four electronic databases (PsycInfo, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL) on February 9th, 2024. Following title and abstract screening, 209 full texts were screened and 29 studies that met our inclusion criteria were identified. A narrative synthesis was conducted to synthesise data from the included studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Psychological flexibility was identified as an important predictor of sleep health, with acceptance and cognitive defusion emerging as particularly critical components of psychological flexibility. The majority of studies examined psychological flexibility as a predictor, mediator, and moderator, with a minority exploring the role of sleep as a risk and protective factor. Moreover, there was evidence of additional risk factors beyond flexibility, namely anxiety sensitivity dimensions, in predicting poor sleep-related outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our review highlights the complexity of the relationships between psychological flexibility and sleep health. Despite measurement considerations impacting the interpretation of findings, our results provide foundations for future research endeavours aimed at refining theoretical models, designing targeted interventions, and ultimately improving sleep health, psychological flexibility, and mental well-being for individuals facing various psychological and physiological challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100871"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143176230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100855
S. Balzarotti , I. Telazzi , L. Vismara , G. Campi , S. Dal Santo , G. Mazzei
Although existing literature suggests that working mothers’ mental health is challenged by several sources of psychological stress, few interventions have targeted this population. The present study investigated the feasibility and potential utility of a newly developed 2-week self-compassion intervention for enhancing well-being among Italian working mothers.
Eighty working mothers agreed to participate in the study (mean age 45.20, SD = 10.63, age range 25–60). The intervention lasted two weeks and was delivered remotely. Using a pre–post within-subjects design, feasibility was assessed in multiple domains (recruitment capability, acceptability, implementation, practicality). Moreover, participants completed both baseline and post-intervention assessments of well-being measures (i.e., perceived stress, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and flourishing) to preliminarily evaluate pre-to post-intervention changes. The results showed that the intervention was feasible in all the domains evaluated. Participants showed significant improvements in pre–post scores of positive affect and satisfaction with life, as well as significant decreases in negative affect and perceived stress. We observed larger effect sizes for negative symptoms compared to positive outcomes.
Overall, our findings suggest that a brief, remote, self-compassion intervention may be a feasible way of promoting mental health among working mothers and warrants additional intervention development and testing with rigorous study designs.
{"title":"Feasibility of a brief, remote self-compassion intervention for employed mothers","authors":"S. Balzarotti , I. Telazzi , L. Vismara , G. Campi , S. Dal Santo , G. Mazzei","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100855","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100855","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although existing literature suggests that working mothers’ mental health is challenged by several sources of psychological stress, few interventions have targeted this population. The present study investigated the feasibility and potential utility of a newly developed 2-week self-compassion intervention for enhancing well-being among Italian working mothers.</div><div>Eighty working mothers agreed to participate in the study (mean age 45.20, SD = 10.63, age range 25–60). The intervention lasted two weeks and was delivered remotely. Using a pre–post within-subjects design, feasibility was assessed in multiple domains (recruitment capability, acceptability, implementation, practicality). Moreover, participants completed both baseline and post-intervention assessments of well-being measures (i.e., perceived stress, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and flourishing) to preliminarily evaluate pre-to post-intervention changes. The results showed that the intervention was feasible in all the domains evaluated. Participants showed significant improvements in pre–post scores of positive affect and satisfaction with life, as well as significant decreases in negative affect and perceived stress. We observed larger effect sizes for negative symptoms compared to positive outcomes.</div><div>Overall, our findings suggest that a brief, remote, self-compassion intervention may be a feasible way of promoting mental health among working mothers and warrants additional intervention development and testing with rigorous study designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"35 ","pages":"Article 100855"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142759089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100850
Brooke M. Smith, Jennifer L. Barney, Clarissa W. Ong, Tyson S. Barrett, Michael E. Levin, Michael P. Twohig
Leading theories regarding the mechanisms of exposure for OCD focus on Pavlovian fear reduction more than operant processes. Acceptance-based exposure directly targets operant behavior. Integrating these perspectives could lead to a more robust understanding of mechanisms of change in exposure and more effective and enduring treatments. The current study investigated acceptance and regulation of distress during exposure. Participants with intrusive thoughts were randomized into three groups, Acceptance (n = 23), Regulation (n = 20), and Control (n = 21), and completed two behavioral avoidance tests (BATs) 1 week apart. Active conditions completed a 30-min exposure plus 6 days of 10-min exposures at home; Control participants watched videos of the same durations. Self-report measures were collected at both sessions, and behavioral, subjective, and physiological repeated measures data were collected during both BATs. Compared to Control, active conditions decreased OCD symptom severity, rituals, and skin conductance levels, while Acceptance showed lower skin conductance levels than Regulation and Control. Acceptance showed greater willingness and psychological flexibility than Control, while Regulation did not. Results support theorized mechanisms of change in acceptance-based exposure and suggest willingness to experience distress may paradoxically lead to decreased physiological arousal, which has important implications for treatment and future research.
{"title":"Physiological, behavioral, and self-report outcomes of acceptance- and regulation-based exposure for intrusive thoughts","authors":"Brooke M. Smith, Jennifer L. Barney, Clarissa W. Ong, Tyson S. Barrett, Michael E. Levin, Michael P. Twohig","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100850","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100850","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leading theories regarding the mechanisms of exposure for OCD focus on Pavlovian fear reduction more than operant processes. Acceptance-based exposure directly targets operant behavior. Integrating these perspectives could lead to a more robust understanding of mechanisms of change in exposure and more effective and enduring treatments. The current study investigated acceptance and regulation of distress during exposure. Participants with intrusive thoughts were randomized into three groups, Acceptance (<em>n</em> = 23), Regulation (<em>n</em> = 20), and Control (<em>n</em> = 21), and completed two behavioral avoidance tests (BATs) 1 week apart. Active conditions completed a 30-min exposure plus 6 days of 10-min exposures at home; Control participants watched videos of the same durations. Self-report measures were collected at both sessions, and behavioral, subjective, and physiological repeated measures data were collected during both BATs. Compared to Control, active conditions decreased OCD symptom severity, rituals, and skin conductance levels, while Acceptance showed lower skin conductance levels than Regulation and Control. Acceptance showed greater willingness and psychological flexibility than Control, while Regulation did not. Results support theorized mechanisms of change in acceptance-based exposure and suggest willingness to experience distress may paradoxically lead to decreased physiological arousal, which has important implications for treatment and future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100850"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142661134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The objective of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group psycho-educational intervention within school environments, administered by psychologists, for early adolescents in Japan. The effectiveness indices measured in this study were ‘clarification of value and commitment (CVC)’ and ‘experiential avoidance (EA)’ as indicators of psychological flexibility of ACT, and self-esteem and self-determination disposition as outcome indices related to well-being. The participants in this study were Japanese junior high school students with a mean age of 14.85 years (SD = 0.86), 112 in the intervention group and 143 in the control group, who completed questionnaires at three time points: before the program (pre), after attending the program (post) and three weeks after the posttest (follow-up). The intervention program, which consisted of three short-term sessions, was shown to be effective in the CVC, self-esteem, and self-determination disposition scores. Conversely, the group-time interaction did not yield a notable impact on the persistence of avoidance behaviors and EA scores, suggesting a potential avenue for refinement in intervention methodologies regarding these domains. These findings offer insight into the potential effectiveness of ACT-based group psycho-educational endeavors in school settings led by psychologists.
{"title":"ACT in school settings: A pilot study of ACT-based universal group psycho-educational program among Japanese early adolescents","authors":"Kenichiro Ishizu , Tomu Ohtsuki , Yoshiyuki Shimoda , Yoshihiko Kunisato","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this investigation was to assess the efficacy of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group psycho-educational intervention within school environments, administered by psychologists, for early adolescents in Japan. The effectiveness indices measured in this study were ‘clarification of value and commitment (CVC)’ and ‘experiential avoidance (EA)’ as indicators of psychological flexibility of ACT, and self-esteem and self-determination disposition as outcome indices related to well-being. The participants in this study were Japanese junior high school students with a mean age of 14.85 years (SD = 0.86), 112 in the intervention group and 143 in the control group, who completed questionnaires at three time points: before the program (pre), after attending the program (post) and three weeks after the posttest (follow-up). The intervention program, which consisted of three short-term sessions, was shown to be effective in the CVC, self-esteem, and self-determination disposition scores. Conversely, the group-time interaction did not yield a notable impact on the persistence of avoidance behaviors and EA scores, suggesting a potential avenue for refinement in intervention methodologies regarding these domains. These findings offer insight into the potential effectiveness of ACT-based group psycho-educational endeavors in school settings led by psychologists.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100851"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142706146","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100844
Vasilis S. Vasiliou , Laoise Meany , Chiarra Belluci , Samantha Dockray , Conor Linehan , Samantha Dick , Martin P. Davoren , Michael Byrne
Drug use during college can have substantial harm on students' lives and impacts the institutions' functioning and local communities. Yet existing interventions for drug use at college poorly address the concurrent dynamic influences of the experiences in earlier developmental periods of young adults and the proximal contextual triggers of college life; both risk factors that can contribute to drug use. To address this, we leveraged system dynamic methods and contextual-behavioural science (CBS) approaches to support the development of interventions focusing at addressin these risk factors. Using Causal Loop Diagram methods (Vensim PLE), we collected qualitative data from college students to generate Network Feedback Loops (NFLs) (n = 24, Maged 22 years old), during the development phase of the MyUse: a contextual behavioural change intervention for harm reduction practices at college students. The findings underscored central nodes (determinants within an intervention) that support our previous identified three CBS-harm-reduction practices for college students (targeted edges: mindful drug-use decision making, value-based activities, context-sensitive personalized plan of harm reduction). Analyses revealed 4 NFLs for students with previous drug use, consisting of 13 edges (4 positive, 2 negative, and 4 balancing reinforcing relationships) and 3 NFLs for students with no previous drug use, consisting of 4 positives, one negative, and one balancing relationship. All the NFLs were nested with the three CBS-related targeted outcomes. College students who use drugs need drug-related knowledge about the unpredictable and adverse effects of drugs, presented in a compassionate way and distributed from credible resources (e.g., students’ unions/club). Students with no previous drug use need education about the effects of drugs and awareness of how drugs can devaluate value-based activities (e.g. sports, friendships, social life). These should be delivered via proxy cue reminders and mobile-text approaches conveying messages about drug use susceptibility, distributed in real-time. Idiosyncratic, dynamic, and contextual-bound factors of lapse risks or preventive practices should account for each person-specific vulnerabilities via personalized harm reduction plans.
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Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100847
Tara Gudarzi , Matti Cervin
Emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility are widely regarded as key contributors to a range of mental health issues and are integral to several treatment models in the mental health field. However, no study has examined whether the two constructs reflect distinct aspects of psychological functioning or whether they can be clearly differentiated from mental health symptoms and associated impairment. Adolescence is a key period for the onset of mental health problems, making a better understanding of psychological processes involved in mental health in this age group important. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16, emotion dysregulation) and the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y8, psychological inflexibility) are widely used assessment tools of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility, but critical evaluations of their validity are sparse. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, we examined the discriminant validity of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility as measured via the DERS-16 and the AFQ-Y8 in a sample of 633 adolescents (Mage = 16.6 [1.98]). Emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility did not demonstrate discriminant validity. Instead, four strongly correlated factors emerged, each comprising a combination of items from both assessment tools: (1) interference stemming from distressing thoughts and emotions, (2) negative self-evaluation, (3) loss of control when emotional, and (4) confusion about one's emotions. These factors were strongly correlated and adequately captured by an overarching factor, which we termed the X factor, which in turn was very strongly correlated with core symptoms of anxiety and depression and functional impairment stemming from mental health issues. In conclusion, the constructs of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility, as assessed by the DERS-16 and AFQ-Y8, do not show discriminant validity in adolescents. Furthermore, the constructs measured by these tools are almost empirically indistinguishable from anxiety, depression, and functional impairment.
{"title":"Emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility in adolescents: Discriminant validity and associations with internalizing symptoms and functional impairment","authors":"Tara Gudarzi , Matti Cervin","doi":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100847","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100847","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility are widely regarded as key contributors to a range of mental health issues and are integral to several treatment models in the mental health field. However, no study has examined whether the two constructs reflect distinct aspects of psychological functioning or whether they can be clearly differentiated from mental health symptoms and associated impairment. Adolescence is a key period for the onset of mental health problems, making a better understanding of psychological processes involved in mental health in this age group important. The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16, emotion dysregulation) and the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y8, psychological inflexibility) are widely used assessment tools of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility, but critical evaluations of their validity are sparse. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, we examined the discriminant validity of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility as measured via the DERS-16 and the AFQ-Y8 in a sample of 633 adolescents (M<sub>age</sub> = 16.6 [1.98]). Emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility did not demonstrate discriminant validity. Instead, four strongly correlated factors emerged, each comprising a combination of items from both assessment tools: (1) interference stemming from distressing thoughts and emotions, (2) negative self-evaluation, (3) loss of control when emotional, and (4) confusion about one's emotions. These factors were strongly correlated and adequately captured by an overarching factor, which we termed the X factor, which in turn was very strongly correlated with core symptoms of anxiety and depression and functional impairment stemming from mental health issues. In conclusion, the constructs of emotion dysregulation and psychological inflexibility, as assessed by the DERS-16 and AFQ-Y8, do not show discriminant validity in adolescents. Furthermore, the constructs measured by these tools are almost empirically indistinguishable from anxiety, depression, and functional impairment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science","volume":"34 ","pages":"Article 100847"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142572884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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