Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Psychological Hardiness, Caring Behavior and Coping Strategies in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background and Aim: Increasing the prevalence of diabetes requires a change in concepts related to diabetes management and treatment programs. This change must be switch from the physical variables to psychosocial factors. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on psychological hardiness, caring behavior and coping styles of patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test intervention with a control group. The population consisted of diabetic patients who were referred to Besat Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Patients were randomly assigned into three groups of 20 people. One group trained by using the ACT approach in eight 2hour sessions. Other groups trained by CBT approach in an eight 1-hour sessions training. The control group didn't receive any training. The data collection tools consisted of the Kobasa psychological hardiness questionnaire (1979), the Endler & Parker coping styles (1990), and the Toobert Hampson, Glasgow self-care questionnaire