The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment based Therapy on Optimism and Meta-Worry in Female Patients with MS
Keywords:
Acceptance and Commitment based Therapy, Optimism, Meta-Worry, Female Patients, MSAbstract
Objective: Female patients with MS face many challenges in their lives, including decreased optimism and increased meta-worry. As a result, the aim of this study was determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment based therapy on optimism and meta-worry in female patients with MS.
Methodology: This study was applied in terns of purpose and semi-experimental with a pretest and posttest design with a control group in terms of implementation method. The research population was all female patients with MS who had a file in the Ahvaz MS Association in 2024 year. Number of 40 people after reviewing the inclusion criteria were selected as a sample with using a purposive sampling method and randomly assigned into two equal groups. The experimental group was trained 8 sessions of 90 minute by protocol of acceptance and commitment based therapy and the control group remained on the waiting list for training. The present research tools were included the optimism questionnaire (Scheier et al., 1994) and meta-worry subscale (Wells and Davies, 1994). The data of this research were analyzed with using chi-square and multivariate analysis of covariance methods in SPSS-25 software.
Findings: The findings of present research showed that there was no significant difference in age and education between female patients with MS in the experimental and control groups (P>0.05). Also, intervention with method of acceptance and commitment based therapy increased optimism and decreased meta-worry in female patients with MS (P<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, health professionals and therapists can use acceptance and commitment based therapy method to improve psychological characteristics, especially increasing optimism and decreasing meta-worry.
Downloads
References
Amani, A., Isanejad, O., & Alipour, E. (2018). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy on marital distress, marital conflict and optimism in married women visited the counseling center of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Kermanshah. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry, 5(1), 42-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/shenakht.5.1.42
Amezcua, L., Rotstein, D., Shirani, A., Ciccarelli, O., Ontaneda, D., Magyari, M., & et al. (2024). Differential diagnosis of suspected multiple sclerosis: considerations in people from minority ethnic and racial backgrounds in North America, northern Europe, and Australasia. The Lancet Neurology, 23(10), 1050-1062. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(24)00288-6
Asban, F., & Bayat, F. (2024). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on meta-worry, irritable mood, and emotional experience processing in anxious female nurses. Hospital Practices and Research, 9(1), 409-415. https://doi.org/10.30491/hpr.2024.458798.1427
Cronin, D., & McQuinn, K. (2023). Government debt forecast errors and the net expenditure rule in EU countries: Undue optimism at a cost. Journal of Policy Medeling, 45(6), 1113-1131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2023.10.001
Fang, Sh., & Ding, D. (2020). The efficacy of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological capital and school engagement: A pilot study among Chinese adolescents. Journal of Contextual Bahavioral Science, 16, 134-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2020.04.005
Farhadyan, F., & Moradi, A. (2020). The contribution of spiritual health, optimism and happiness in prediction of psychological well-being among students. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 21(1), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.30486/jsrp.2019.576556.1513
Fata, L., Moutabi, F., Moloudi, R., & Ziayee, K. (2010). Psychometric properties of Persian version of thought control questionnaire and anxious thought inventory in Iranian students. Journal of Psychological Model and Methods, 1(1), 81-103. https://www.sid.ir/paper/227412/en
Gonzalez, L. P., Eichau, S., Carrion, L. O., Borges, M., Dominguez, E., & Ruiz, R. L. (2024). ACTIVE-FIT program: Assessment of sleep quality and its relationship with physical activity in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Sleep Medicine, 119, 373-378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2024.05.005
Gunnersen, S. R., Hanehoj, K., Gro, S., Petersen, C. M., & Skovgaard, L. (2022). The effects of a 12-week yoga intervention on body awareness in people with multiple sclerosis: A non-controlled pilot study. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 9(3), 167-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2022.06.001
Howard, I. M., & Burgess, K. (2021). Telehealth for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, 32(2), 239-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmr.2020.12.003
Jin, M., Zhang, X., Xiong, Y., & Zhou, Y. (2021). Implications of green optimism upon sustainable supply chain management. European Journal of Operational Research, 295(1), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2021.02.036
Khosh Lahjeh Sedgh, A., Madahi, M. E., Ahadi, H., & Mirzaee, H. R. (2022). Transdiagnostic preliminary treatment component-based package developed by meta cognitive therapy and acceptance & commitment therapy and the effectiveness of the meta-worry in breast cancer patients. Clinical Health Psychology, 1(1), 53-66. https://chp-ipa.ir/article-1-33-en.html
Kocher, L. M., Schneider, K., & Christiansen, H. (2021). Thinking about worry: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the assessment of metacognitions in children and adolescents. World Journal of Psychiatry, 11(9), 635-658. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v11.i9.635
Lee, B., Reyes, A., Rumrill, S., & Bishop, M. (2022). The intermediary role of optimism and mental Health in the relationship between disability-related stress and life satisfaction: A serial mediation model. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 67(1), 3-9. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552221080434
Lindblom, A., Lindblom, T., & Wechtler, H. (2020). Dispositional optimism, entrepreneurial success and exit intentions: The mediating effects of life satisfaction. Journal of Business Research, 120, 230-240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.08.012
Mahdavi, A., Yazdanbakhsh, K., & Sharif, M. (2016). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in reducing psychological symptoms, meta-worry and thought fusion of multiple sclerosis patients. Annals of Military and Health Sciences Research, 14(1), 16-21. https://brieflands.com/articles/amhsr-13172
McKay, D., & O’Donohue, W. (2023). Conceptual, psychometric, methodological and value problems in acceptance and commitment therapy: Introduction to the special section, “A critical appraisal of acceptance and commitment therapy”. Behavior Therapy, 54(6), 929-938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2023.07.004Rajaram, R., Cevik, J., Bhindi, N., & Rozen, W. M. (2024). The anatomy of the superficial inferior epigastric artery: Cautious optimism and rightful reluctance for the championing of a minimally morbid abdominal flap. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 96, 69-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2024.07.004
Myhr, P., Hursti, T., Emanuelsson, K., Lofgren, E., & Hjemdal, O. (2019). Can the attention training technique reduce stress in students? A controlled study of stress appraisals and meta-worry. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(1532), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01532
Mohagheghi, H., Dousti, P., & Jafari, D. (2016). The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on reduction generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia and health anxiety in students. Clinical Psychology Studies, 7(23), 81-94. https://doi.org/10.22054/jcps.2016.4559
Nordahl, H., Strand, E. R., Hjemdal, O., & Nordahl, H. M. (2024). Is meta-worry relevant to interpersonal problems? Testing the metacognitive model of generalized anxiety disorder in an analogue- and a clinical sample of GAD. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 53(5), 455-466. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2024.2331191
Nordahl, H., Vollset, T., & Hjemdal, O. (2022). An empirical test of the metacognitive model of generalized anxiety disorder. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 64(3), 263-267. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12884
Ozer, D., & Dissiz, M. (2024). The effect of online group based acceptance and commitment therapy on psychotic symptoms and functioning levels of individuals with early psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 267, 55-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2024.03.018
Rezaei Jamaloei, H., Shoghi, B., & Babakhanlou, A. (2021). Comparison of the effectiveness of based on acceptance and commitment therapy and psycho-motor relaxation using Dohsa-Hou on signs of improvement in physical health and psychological well-being in MS patients. Journal of Nurse and Physician Within War, 9(3), 100-112. http://dx.doi.org/10.29252/npwjm.9.32.100
Roch, L., Dawson, D. L., Moghaddam, N. G., Abey, A., & Gresswell, D. M. (2017). An acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): A case series approach. Journal of Cotextual Behavioral Sciece, 6(2), 178-186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2017.04.007
Saeidi, A., Jabalameli, S., Gorji, Y., & Ebrahimi, A. (2021). Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on self-care and psychological capital of patients with diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Nursing, 9(3), 1633-1647. https://jdn.zbmu.ac.ir/article-1-444-en.html
Saldana, K. S., McGowan, S. K., & Martin, J. L. (2023). Acceptance and commitment therapy as an adjunct or alternative treatment to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 18(1), 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.09.003
Scheier, M. F., Carver, C. S., & Bridges, M. W. (1994). Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A re-evaluation of the life orientation test. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(6), 1063-1078. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.67.6.1063
Shareh, H., Dalalmoqaddam, F., & Haghi, E. (2019). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in the meaning in life, emotional distress tolerance and pain self-efficacy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 11(3), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.22075/jcp.2019.16347.1557
Shirali, Sh., & DashtBozorgi, Z. (2020). Effect of acceptance and commitment-based group therapy on existential anxiety, distress tolerance, and meta-worry in elderly women with cardiovascular disease in Mehr Hospital of Ahvaz city in 2018. Journal of Community Health, 13(4), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.22123/chj.2020.196985.1334
Silva-Santos, L. C. S., Silva, M. C., & Faro, A. (2022). Meta-worry, anxiety, and depression in the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: Brazil, June 2020. Salud Mental, 45(4), 151-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.17711/SM.0185-3325.2022.021
Twohig, M. P., Capel, L. K., & Levin, M. E. (2024). A review of research on acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 47(4), 711-722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2024.04.013
Vilardaga, J. C. P., Winger, J. G., Teo, I., Owen, L., Sutton, L. M., Keefe, F. J., & Somers, T. J. (2020). Coping skills training and acceptance and commitment therapy for symptom management: Feasibility and acceptability of a brief telephone-delivered protocol for patients with advanced cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 59(2), 270-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.005
Wahyuni, E., & Fauziah, F. N. (2021). Web-based acceptance and commitment therapy for optimism. International Seminar on Innovative and Creative Guidance and Counseling Service, 657, 80-87. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220405.015
Wells, A., & Davies, M. I. (1994). The thought control questionnaire: A measure of individual differences in the control of unwanted thoughts. Behavioral Research Therapy, 32(8), 871-878. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(94)90168-6
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Aida Kalantar Hormozi (Author); Farazmand Kalantari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
