Mental health promotion as a new goal in public mental health care: a randomized controlled trial of an intervention enhancing psychological flexibility.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether an ACT and mindfulness-based intervention could improve positive mental health by enhancing psychological flexibility.
Results Summary
The intervention significantly improved emotional and psychological well-being post-intervention and increased psychological flexibility at follow-up, with psychological flexibility mediating the positive mental health effects.
Population
93 adults with mild to moderate psychological distress.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Duration of intervention not explicitly stated, but follow-up was at 3 months.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness intervention | increase | emotional well-being | adults with mild to moderate psychological distress | - | had greater | #1 |
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness intervention | increase | psychological well-being | adults with mild to moderate psychological distress | - | had greater | #2 |
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness intervention | increase | psychological flexibility | adults with mild to moderate psychological distress | - | had greater | #3 |
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness intervention | increase | positive mental health | adults with mild to moderate psychological distress | - | mediated the effects of the intervention on | #4 |
acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness intervention | increase | positive mental health | adults with mild to moderate psychological distress | - | effective in improving | #5 |
OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether an intervention based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness was successful in promoting positive mental health by enhancing psychological flexibility. METHODS: Participants were 93 adults with mild to moderate psychological distress. They were randomly assigned to the group intervention (n = 49) or to a waiting-list control group (n = 44). Participants completed measures before and after the intervention as well as 3 months later at follow-up to assess mental health in terms of emotional, psychological, and social well-being (Mental Health Continuum-Short Form) as well as psychological flexibility (i.e., acceptance of present experiences and value-based behavior, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II). RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that compared with the participants on the waiting list, participants in the ACT and mindfulness intervention had greater emotional and psychological well-being after the intervention and also greater psychological flexibility at follow-up. Mediational analyses showed that the enhancement of psychological flexibility during the intervention mediated the effects of the intervention on positive mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention is effective in improving positive mental health by stimulating skills of acceptance and value-based action.