Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Hope and Chronic Pain in Girls Aged 20 to 50 Years with Physical Disabilities in Arsanjan

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
M Aghili 1
Z Ghahraman Izadi 2
1 Assistant Prof, Dept of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Iran.
2 MSc, Dept of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Golestan, Iran.
10.22123/chj.2023.325962.1850
Abstract
Introduction: The existence of mental and physical health defects creates multiple crises in individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in hope and chronic pain among girls aged 20 to 50 years with physical disabilities.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed with a pre-test and post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all girls with physical disabilities in Arsanjan, who were admitted to the Welfare Department of Arsanjan in 2020. The statistical sample consisted of 30 girls with physical disabilities who volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups of fifteen: an experimental group and a control group. Data were collected using the Hope test (Schneider, 1991) and chronic pain (Cleland, 1996). The experimental group then received an ACT treatment program for eight 60-minute sessions. However, the control group did not receive any training. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures at a significance level of 0.05 with SPSS software version 18.
Results: Mean and standard deviation of the pre-test (post-test) score of the experimental group in the variable of hope was 12/64±7/41 (27/67±5/32) and the variable of chronic pain was 33/43±7/16 (26/37±5/27). No significant change was observed in the control group. Acceptance and commitment-based intervention increased hope and reduced chronic joint pain in the experimental group (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) was effective in increasing hope and reducing chronic pain in girls with physical and motor disabilities, and in the follow-up period of the mentioned treatment, it also had a stable and sustainable therapeutic effect. Therefore, it can be used as a psychological intervention for girls with physical-motor disabilities.         
Keywords
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Hope
Chronic Pain
Physical-Motor Disability
Girls
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