ACTing towards better living during COVID-19: The effects of Acceptance and Commitment therapy for individuals affected by COVID-19

Abstract

The widespread effects of COVID-19 have dramatically increased the prevalence of mental health difficulties, meaning it is vital to explore psychotherapy options. Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) helps individuals engage in meaningful activities despite difficult and unchangeable circumstances. Recent literature suggests that psychological flexibility, the underlying process of ACT, may moderate COVID-related distress – making ACT a promising psychotherapy candidate. This study therefore aimed to explore the effects of an ACT-based, guided self-help intervention on wellbeing, psychological flexibility, COVID-related distress, and general psychological distress within the general population. 48 participants (recruited via social media) engaged in a three-week, non-concurrent baseline phase, then received six, weekly, digital modules and weekly webinars to address module queries. 20 participants completed all modules and provided post-intervention feedback via an online qualitative survey. Multilevel modelling analysis found significant improvements in: wellbeing; overall psychological flexibility (including subscales behavioural awareness and valued action); and general psychological distress (including depression, anxiety and stress). No significant changes were found for COVID-related distress. Findings were sustained at one- and two-months follow-up – suggesting lasting change. Qualitative findings provide further insights about the experience of the intervention: participants reported improved wellbeing, still experiencing COVID-related distress, but felt more able to cope with general psychological distress (such as anxiety). No change in COVID-related distress scores may be due to methodological and measurement issues. This study is one of the first to explore ACT as a psychotherapeutic intervention for COVID-related distress and adds to the growing body of literature highlighting psychological flexibility as a key process for mitigating COVID-related distress.

Mental health and psychological resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural comparison of Japan, Malaysia, China, and the U.S.

“…In the future, psychological intervention programs that increase sense of control and self-compassion may help to maintain the mental health of people worldwide during the ongoing pandemic (e.g., Ferrari et al, 2019 ; Msetfi et al, 2016 ). For example, acceptance and commitment therapy ( Hayes et al, 2006 ; Shepherd et al, 2022 ) is one approach for enhancing psychological flexibility ( Kashdan and Rottenberg, 2010 ; Landi et al, 2020 ; Pakenham et al, 2020 ), which is closely related to psychological resilience.…”

Shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic: Psychological responses from a subjective perspective–A longitudinal mixed-methods study across five European countries

“…values clarification, gratitude, positive thinking) have been identified as protective against mental health problems [ 36 , 70 ]. They have also shown promising effects in interventions addressing COVID-19-related distress by targeting psychological flexibility [ 71 ]. Furthermore, psychological flexibility might be essential for explaining psychological adjustment to the pandemic [ 39 ].…”

The Mediating Role of Religious Beliefs in the Relationship between Well-Being and Fear of COVID-19

“…The goal of ACT is to assist individuals in living with psychological suffering, clarifying and committing to personal values, like region. ACT appears to be an appropriate method for the variety of COVID-related stress: through focusing on the main adaptive processes that underpin psychological health and resilience (Flaxman et al, 2010;Shepherd et al, 2022).…”