Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Department of Psychology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
2 Department of Psychology, Firoozabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Firoozabad, Iran
Abstract
Background: The feeling of isolation is a negative emotion that arises from a lack of quantity or quality in social and behavioral connections, often resulting in actions like avoiding interaction with others. This study aimed to assess the impact of acceptance and commitment education on enhancing psychological resilience and reducing loneliness among housewives in Shiraz, Iran.
Methods: The present semi-experimental study applied a pre-test-post-test design, including a two-month follow-up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of married women who were housewives, aged between 30–40 years, residing in the 1st district of Shiraz, Iran in 2023. Thirty-five married women in the experimental group and another thirty-five married women in the control group were selected through a convenience sampling method. Subsequently, they were assigned randomly to either the experimental or control group. The participants in the study were allocated to either the experimental group or the control group through a random number table. The experimental groups received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for 8 sessions, with one session per week lasting 90 minutes each, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The participants completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Loneliness Scale (UCLA). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28.
Results: The study results indicated that the acceptance and commitment intervention significantly improved resilience and reduced loneliness (P<0.001). After adjusting for differences, the average resilience score in the intervention group was 55.56±0.675, which was 8.16 points higher than the average of 47.40±0.664 in the control group (P<0.001). Additionally, the average follow-up resilience score in the intervention group was 7.58 points higher than the control group, demonstrating the sustained impact (P=0.001). On the loneliness measure, the post-test average for the intervention group was 45.17±0.549, which was 5.53 points lower than the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, the follow-up loneliness score in the intervention group was 5.29 points lower than the control group, indicating the long-lasting impact of the acceptance and commitment intervention (P=0.001).
Conclusion: Training programs focusing on acceptance and commitment have six main elements: acceptance, non-interference, being present, taking action, self-awareness, and values. These processes, along with therapeutic techniques, help housewives attain psychological flexibility which is the goal of the intervention.
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