Understanding and promoting students’ well-being and performance in university studies – effects of a 7-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based course (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henna Asikainen ◽  
Nina Katajavuori ◽  
Kirsikka Kaipainen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
University Students ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pharmacy Students ◽  
Reflective Journal ◽  
Reflective Journals ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
And Performance

BACKGROUND Internationally there have been many studies showing that the number of university students suffering from mental illness is growing and this problem should be addressed OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine 41 pharmacy students’ experiences of a small Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) -based intervention that was implemented as a 7-week course with weekly online modules. METHODS Students’ well-being, experiences of stress, organised studying and psychological flexibility were measured with questionnaires at the beginning and end of the course. Students’ experiences of the effectiveness of the course and were analysed from open-ended responses and a reflective journal. RESULTS The results show that students’ well-being and ability to manage time and effort increased during the course(p≤0.003). In their reflective journals, students described how their ability to manage stress in their studies, cope with their thoughts and feelings, focus on the things that are more important to them, and manage their time in studying and their well-being had improved. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that it is possible to foster students’ well-being in their studies. More research is needed to identify the long-lasting effects of these kind of interventions.

Study Protocol for Implementation of An Internet-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Promoting Mental Health Among Migrant Live-in Caregivers in Canada (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Po-Lun Fung ◽  
Mandana Vahabi ◽  
Masoomeh Moosapoor ◽  
Abdolreza Akbarian ◽  
Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

BACKGROUND Psychological distress, isolation, feeling of powerlessness, and limited social support are realities faced by temporary migrant live–in caregivers in Canada. Furthermore, they experience multiple barriers in accessing mental health services due to their long work hours, limited knowledge about health resources, precarious employment, and immigration status. OBJECTIVE Women Empowerment - Caregiver Acceptance & Resilience E-Learning (WE2CARE) project is a pilot intervention research project that aims to promote mental well being and resiliency of migrant live-in caregivers. The objectives include exploring the effectiveness of this program in: (1) reducing psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress); (2) promoting committed actions of self-care; and (3) building mutual support social networks. Further, participants’ satisfaction with the intervention and their perceived barriers and facilitators to practicing the self-care strategies embedded in WE2CARE will be examined. METHODS Thirty-six live- in caregivers residing in Great Toronto Area (GTA) will be recruited and randomly assigned to intervention and waitlist control groups. The intervention group will receive a 6-week web-based psychosocial intervention that will be based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Standardized self-reported surveys will be administered online pre-, post-, and 6-week post-intervention to assess mental distress (DASS 21), psychological flexibility (AAQ-2), mindfulness (CAMS-R) and Multi-System Model of Resilience (MSMR-I). Two focus groups will be held with a subset of participants to explore their feedback on the utility of the WE2CARE program. RESULTS WE2CARE was funded in January 2019 for a year. The protocol was approved by the research ethics boards of Ryerson University (REB 2019-036) in February 2019, and University of Toronto (RIS37623) in May 2019. Data collection started upon ethics approval and was completed by May 2020. A total of 29 caregivers completed the study and 20 participated in the focus groups. Data analyses are in progress and results will be published in 2021. CONCLUSIONS WE2CARE can be a promising approach in reducing stress, promoting resilience, and providing a virtual space for peer emotional support and collaborative learning among socially isolated and marginalized women. The results of this pilot study will inform the adaptation and utility of online delivery of ACT based psychological intervention in promoting mental health among disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. CLINICALTRIAL None

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Resilience, Psychological Well-Being, and Life Expectancy in Asthmatic Patients

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaghayegh Bahramiabdolmalaki ◽  
Alireza Homayouni ◽  
Masoud Aliyali
Keyword(s):  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Test Collection ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Asthmatic Patients ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test

Introduction: Psychosomatic experts have tried to associate mental disorders to physical illnesses. The vulnerability of different parts of the body is thought to depend on fundamental differences between individuals. One of the methods that seems to affect the psychological problems of asthma patients is acceptance and commitment therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance- and commitment-based therapy on resilience, psychological well-being, and life expectancy in asthmatic patients. Methods: This quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study was conducted on 30 asthmatic patients who were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups according to the inclusion criteria. Acceptance and commitment therapy sessions were based on the treatment package of Hayes et al. in 8 sessions of 60 minutes on the experimental group and no intervention was performed on the control group. All participants took part in the pre-test and post-test. Collection tools included Conner-Davidson Resilience Questionnaire, Schneider Life expectancy, and Ryf Psychological Well-being. Results: The results showed a significant difference in the components of resilience, psychological well-being, and life expectancy in asthmatic patients before and after the experiment (p <0.05). In other words, acceptance and commitment-based therapy had a positive effect on resilience, psychological well-being and life expectancy in asthmatic patients and these components have increased in patients. Conclusion: Findings showed that acceptance- and commitment-based therapy was effective on resilience, psychological well-being, and life expectancy of asthmatic patients. This treatment is suggested to be used in conjunction with drug therapy to improve the psychological symptoms of asthmatic patients.

scholarly journals Investigating the effectiveness of an online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention versus a waiting list control condition on pain interference and quality of life in adults with chronic pain and multimorbidity: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e012671
Author(s):  
Brian W Slattery ◽  
Laura L O’Connor ◽  
Stephanie Haugh ◽  
Katie Barrett ◽  
Kady Francis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Waiting List ◽  
Pain Interference ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

IntroductionMultimorbidity refers to the presence of two or more chronic health conditions within one person, where no one condition is primary. Research suggests that multimorbidity is highly correlated with chronic pain, which is pain lasting longer than 3 months. Psychotherapeutic interventions for people living with chronic illness have resulted in reduced symptom reporting and improved psychological well-being. There is a dearth of research, however, using online psychotherapy for people living with multimorbidity where chronic pain is a central condition. This study will compare the effectiveness of an online acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention with a waiting list control condition in terms of improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and reducing levels of pain interference in people with chronic pain and at least one other condition.Methods and analysis192 adult participants with non-malignant pain that persists for at least 3 months and at least one other medically diagnosed condition will be randomised to one of two study conditions. The experimental group will undergo an eight-session internet-delivered ACT programme over an 8-week period. A waiting list group will be offered the ACT intervention after the 3-month follow-up period. HRQoL and pain interference will act as the primary outcomes. Data will be analysed using a linear mixed model and adjusted to account for demographic and clinical variables as necessary. A Study Within a Trial will be incorporated to examine the effect on recruitment and retention of showing participants an animated educational video.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by the Research Ethics Committee of the National University of Ireland, Galway. Dissemination of results will be via peer reviewed journal articles and conference presentations.Trial registration numberISRCTN22343024.

scholarly journals The BrainACT study: acceptance and commitment therapy for depressive and anxiety symptoms following acquired brain injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne Rauwenhoff ◽  
Frenk Peeters ◽  
Yvonne Bol ◽  
Caroline Van Heugten
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Background Following an acquired brain injury, individuals frequently experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. However, current treatments for these symptoms are not very effective. A promising treatment is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which is a third-wave behavioural therapy. The primary goal of this therapy is not to reduce symptoms, but to improve psychological flexibility and general well-being, which may be accompanied by a reduction in symptom severity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of an adapted ACT intervention (BrainACT) in people with acquired brain injury who experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Methods The study is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, two-arm parallel trial. In total, 94 patients who survive a stroke or traumatic brain injury will be randomized into an ACT or control (i.e. psycho-education and relaxation) intervention. The primary outcome measures are the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Outcomes will be assessed by trained assessors, blinded to treatment condition, pre-treatment, during treatment, post-treatment, and at 7 and 12 months. Discussion This study will contribute to the existing knowledge on how to treat psychological distress following acquired brain injury. If effective, BrainACT could be implemented in clinical practice and potentially help a large number of patients with acquired brain injury. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register, NL691, NTR 7111. Registered on 26 March 2018. https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/6916.

scholarly journals Acceptance and commitment therapy as a clinical anxiety treatment and performance enhancement program for musicians

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 205920431774880 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Juncos ◽  
Elvire de Paiva e Pona
Keyword(s):  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Music Performance ◽  
Performance Psychology ◽  
Music Performance Anxiety ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Anxiety Treatment ◽  
And Performance

In this article we discuss the various options available to musicians wanting to treat their music performance anxiety (MPA), and we recommend that musicians work with a performance psychologist over the other available options. We also discuss the potential for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to serve as both a clinical anxiety treatment and performance enhancement program for musicians, while addressing the state of the research for both applications, as well as the research for a similar, mindfulness and acceptance-based performance enhancement program for athletes, i.e., the Mindfulness–Acceptance–Commitment (MAC) approach. In order for the field of performance psychology to develop into a more credible discipline, we believe practitioners working with musicians should follow an evidence-based practice model of care, in which empirically supported treatments for MPA and performance enhancement are promoted, and information about such treatments is disseminated among practitioners, musicians, and music teachers. Such a practice must become the norm in this field, because it will ultimately result in greater protections for those musicians seeking help for performance-related challenges by ensuring a higher level of professional accountability among practitioners. Lastly, we discuss some issues that may arise when applying ACT or the MAC approach to musicians.

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