Journal of Education and Health Promotion

The effect of counseling based on acceptance and commitment therapy on anxiety, depression, and quality of life among female adolescent students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Sayeh Shiri
. Azizeh Farshbaf‑Khalili 1
. Khalil Esmaeilpour 2
. Niloofar Sattarzadeh

1 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adolescence is a stressful time period. Adolescents experience new changes 
physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects 
of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on anxiety (primary outcome), depression, and quality 
of life (secondary outcomes) of adolescents.
MATERIALS AND METHOD: This was a quasi‑experimental study with pre and postintervention 
design. One hundred female students aged 16–18 years with mild to moderate anxiety selected 
through multistage cluster sampling from five educational districts of Tabriz. During six group 
counseling sessions, students were consulted with the acceptance and commitment approach 
according to the protocol. Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory and the World Health Organization 
brief Quality of Life Questionnaire consultation were completed before, immediately after, and 8 weeks 
after the consultation. Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANCOVA.
RESULTS: The mean anxiety score decreased significantly immediately after the intervention (mean 
difference [MD]: −4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.9 to − 2.0; P < 0.001) and 8 weeks later (MD: 
−3.9, 95% CI: −5.8 to − 1.9; P < 0.001). The mean depression score immediately (P < 0.001) and 
8 weeks after intervention (MD; −4.2, CI: −1.6 to − 6.8), P < 0.001) declined significantly. The mean 
overall quality of life score increased significantly after the intervention (P < 0.001) and 8 weeks 
later (MD: 4.7, 95% CI: 7.1–2.3, P < 0.001) compared to baseline.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on the effectiveness of counseling based on ACT on anxiety, depression, 
and quality of life in the female students with the mild and moderate anxiety over time, it can be used 
as a helpful method in high schools.

Keywords

Acceptance and commitment therapy
adolescence
anxiety
counseling
depression
quality of life
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 12, Issue 2
Winter 2022
Pages 1-10

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