1
|
Hsu T, Adamowicz JL, Thomas EBK. The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on the psychological flexibility and inflexibility of undergraduate students: A systematic review and three-level meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2023; 30:169-180. [PMID: 37982074 PMCID: PMC10655902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Rising rates of mental health problems in undergraduate students is a critical public health issue. There is evidence supporting the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in decreasing psychological symptoms in undergraduates, which is thought to be facilitated through increases in psychological flexibility (PF) and decreases in psychological inflexibility (PIF). However, little is known about the effect of ACT on these processes in undergraduates. We conducted a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis examining this effect in 20 studies, which provided 56 effect sizes. A combined sample of 1,750 undergraduates yielded a small-to-medium overall effect (g = .38, SE = .09, p < .001, 95% CI: [0.20, 0.56]). This effect did not depend on control group type, intervention modality, number of sessions, the questionnaire used, whether PF or PIF was measured, or participant age. However, there was a significant mean effect only in studies with a specific clinical target, but not in those without one. Furthermore, the higher the percentage of female participants, the lower the reported effect size. Results suggested that ACT may increase PF and decrease PIF in undergraduates and highlighted various conceptual and measurement issues. Study protocol and materials were preregistered (https://osf.io/un6ce/).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ti Hsu
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa University of Iowa, G60 Psychological and Brain Sciences Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1407
| | - Jenna L. Adamowicz
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa University of Iowa, G60 Psychological and Brain Sciences Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1407
| | - Emily B. K. Thomas
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa University of Iowa, G60 Psychological and Brain Sciences Building, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1407
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Thomas EBK, Sagorac Gruichich T, Maronge JM, Hoel S, Victory A, Stowe ZN, Cochran A. Mobile Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Distressed First-Generation College Students: Microrandomized Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2023; 10:e43065. [PMID: 37184896 DOI: 10.2196/43065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extant gaps in mental health services are intensified among first-generation college students. Improving access to empirically based interventions is critical, and mobile health (mHealth) interventions are growing in support. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported intervention that has been applied to college students, via mobile app, and in brief intervals. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of an ACT-based mHealth intervention using a microrandomized trial (MRT) design. METHODS Participants (N=34) were 18- to 19-year-old first-generation college students reporting distress, who participated in a 6-week intervention period of twice-daily assessments and randomization to intervention. Participants logged symptoms, moods, and behaviors on the mobile app Lorevimo. After the assessment, participants were randomized to an ACT-based intervention or no intervention. Analyses examined proximal change after randomization using a weighted and centered least squares approach. Outcomes included values-based and avoidance behavior, as well as depressive symptoms and perceived stress. RESULTS The findings indicated the intervention was safe and feasible. The intervention increased values-based behavior but did not decrease avoidance behavior. The intervention reduced depressive symptoms but not perceived stress. CONCLUSIONS An MRT of an mHealth ACT-based intervention among distressed first-generation college students suggests that a larger MRT is warranted. Future investigations may tailor interventions to contexts where intervention is most impactful. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04081662; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT04081662. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/17086.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacob M Maronge
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Sydney Hoel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Amanda Victory
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zachary N Stowe
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Amy Cochran
- Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ditton E, Knott B, Hodyl N, Horton G, Oldmeadow C, Walker FR, Nilsson M. Evaluation of an App-Delivered Psychological Flexibility Skill Training Intervention for Medical Student Burnout and Well-being: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2023; 10:e42566. [PMID: 36745486 PMCID: PMC9941904 DOI: 10.2196/42566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physician burnout is a common problem, with onset frequently occurring during undergraduate education. Early intervention strategies that train medical students in psychological flexibility skills could support well-being and mitigate burnout risks associated with unmodifiable career stressors. There is a need for randomized controlled trials to assess effectiveness. As psychological flexibility varies contextually and among individuals, tailoring interventions may improve outcomes. Smartphone apps can facilitate individualization and accessibility, and the evaluation of this approach is an identified research priority. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a stand-alone app-delivered Acceptance and Commitment Training intervention for improving medical students' self-reported burnout, well-being, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress outcomes. We aimed to explore whether an individualized app would demonstrate benefits over a nonindividualized version. METHODS This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted with a sample of medical students from 2 Australian universities (N=143). Participants were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 intervention arms (individualized, nonindividualized, and waitlist) using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio. Individualized and nonindividualized participants were blinded to group allocation. The 5-week intervention included an introductory module (stage 1) and on-demand access to short skill training activities (stage 2), which students accessed at their own pace. Stage 2 was either nonindividualized or individualized to meet students' identified psychological flexibility training needs. RESULTS The mean differences in change from baseline between the intervention groups and the waitlist group were not statistically significant for burnout outcomes: exhaustion (primary; individualized: -0.52, 95% CI -3.70 to 2.65, P=.75; nonindividualized: 1.60, 95% CI -1.84 to 5.03, P=.37), cynicism (individualized: -1.26, 95% CI -4.46 to 1.94, P=.44; nonindividualized: 1.00, 95% CI -2.45 to 4.46, P=.57), and academic efficacy (individualized: 0.94, 95% CI -0.90 to 2.79, P=.32; nonindividualized: 2.02, 95% CI 0.02-4.03, P=.05). Following the intervention, the individualized group demonstrated improved psychological flexibility (0.50, 95% CI 0.12-0.89; P=.01), reduced inflexibility (0.48, 95% CI -0.92 to -0.04; P=.04), and reduced stress (-6.89, 95% CI -12.01 to 5.99; P=.01), and the nonindividualized group demonstrated improved well-being (6.46, 95% CI 0.49-12.42; P=.04) and stress (-6.36, 95% CI -11.90 to -0.83; P=.03) compared with waitlist participants. Between-group differences for the individualized and nonindividualized arms were not statistically significant. High attrition (75/143, 52.4%) was observed. CONCLUSIONS This trial provides early support for the potential benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Training for medical student well-being and psychological outcomes and demonstrates that psychological flexibility and inflexibility can be trained using a smartphone app. Although postintervention burnout outcomes were not statistically significant, improvements in secondary outcomes could indicate early risk mitigation. Replication studies with larger samples and longer-term follow-up are required, and future research should focus on improving implementation frameworks to increase engagement and optimize individualization methods. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 12621000911897; https://tinyurl.com/2p92cwrw. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/32992.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Ditton
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | | | - Nicolette Hodyl
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,New South Wales Regional Health Partners, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Graeme Horton
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Christopher Oldmeadow
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Frederick Rohan Walker
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Michael Nilsson
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mavragani A, Knott B, Hodyl N, Horton G, Walker FR, Nilsson M. Medical Student Experiences of Engaging in a Psychological Flexibility Skill Training App for Burnout and Well-being: Pilot Feasibility Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e43263. [PMID: 36626191 PMCID: PMC9874998 DOI: 10.2196/43263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical students are at higher risk of burnout than the general population. Interventions that facilitate adaptive coping behaviors (eg, Psychological Flexibility) in the context of inherent stressors associated with medical training could mitigate burnout risk and improve well-being. Delivering these interventions using smartphone apps offers advantages such as accessibility, scalability, mitigation of time and stigma barriers, and facilitation of individual tailoring (individualization). There is a need for feasibility trials with medical students in this emerging field. Formal evaluations of user experiences of app-based psychological skill training are required to identify barriers to and facilitators of engagement and optimize intervention development before implementation in efficacy trials and real-world settings. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering an individualized Psychological Flexibility skill training intervention (Acceptance and Commitment Training [ACTraining]) to medical students using an app-based delivery format. We further aimed to explore how formal evaluation of user experiences might inform and guide the development of this app before implementation in an efficacy trial and future research involving app-delivered psychological skill training for medical students. METHODS This single-arm study was an early-phase feasibility trial of a stand-alone ACTraining app conducted with a sample of Australian medical students (n=11). We collected app usability and user experience data across a broad range of domains (eg, perceived helpfulness and relevance, learning experiences, and self-efficacy) using self-report questionnaires (quantitative and qualitative) and behavioral engagement outcomes. RESULTS Behavioral engagement data demonstrated that the app delivered the assessment procedures and individualized ACTraining intervention to medical students as intended. The subjective feedback provided by students who actively engaged with the app was generally positive across several indicators, including usability, perceived relevance and helpfulness, accessibility, maintenance of privacy, and opportunity for self-reflection. Disengagement from the app was an identified challenge throughout the trial. Participant feedback identified several factors that may have affected engagement, such as time, expectations regarding app interface functioning, and individual differences in confidence and self-efficacy when implementing skills. CONCLUSIONS This study reports user experience data that have been largely absent from the literature on digital psychological interventions for medical students. Our findings demonstrate the preliminary feasibility of an app-delivered ACTraining intervention for medical student well-being and burnout and support the value of future assessment of the efficacy of this approach with larger samples. We consider subjective feedback from medical students in relation to observed engagement and propose how this information might be used to inform the development of this app and future research in this nascent field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicolette Hodyl
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,New South Wales Regional Health Partners, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Graeme Horton
- College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Frederick Rohan Walker
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Michael Nilsson
- Centre for Rehab Innovations, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.,College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singaport, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lavelle J, Storan D, Eswara Murthy V, De Dominicis N, Mulcahy HE, McHugh L. Brief and Telehealth Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Interventions for Stress in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A Series of Single Case Experimental Design (SCED) Studies. J Clin Med 2022; 11:2757. [PMID: 35628884 PMCID: PMC9145285 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11102757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological intervention targeting distress is now considered an integral component of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. However, significant barriers to access exist which necessitate the development of effective, economic, and accessible brief and remote interventions. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a therapy with demonstrated acceptability and a growing evidence base for the treatment of distress in IBD populations. The present paper trialled two brief ACT interventions via randomized multiple baseline designs. Study 1 trialled a single-session ACT intervention (delivered face-to-face and lasting approximately two hours) targeting stress and experiential avoidance, respectively. Participants were seven people with an IBD diagnosis who presented with moderate to extremely severe stress (five females, two males; M age = 39.57, SD = 5.74). The findings of study 1 indicate that a single-session ACT intervention represented an insufficient dosage to reduce stress and experiential avoidance. Study 2 investigated a brief telehealth ACT intervention (delivered via a video conferencing platform and lasting approximately four hours) targeting stress and increased psychological flexibility. Participants (N = 12 people with an IBD diagnosis and mild to extremely severe stress) completed baselines lasting from 21 to 66 days before receiving a two-session ACT telehealth intervention supplemented by a workbook and phone consultation. Approximately half of participants experienced reduced stress, increased engagement in valued action, and increased functioning. Despite shortcomings such as missing data and the context of COVID-19, the present findings suggest that brief ACT interventions in this population may be effective and economic, though further research and replications are necessary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Lavelle
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (V.E.M.); (L.M.)
| | - Darragh Storan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Vincent’s University Hospital, D04 T6F4 Dublin, Ireland; (D.S.); (N.D.D.); (H.E.M.)
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Varsha Eswara Murthy
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (V.E.M.); (L.M.)
| | - Noemi De Dominicis
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Vincent’s University Hospital, D04 T6F4 Dublin, Ireland; (D.S.); (N.D.D.); (H.E.M.)
| | - Hugh E. Mulcahy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Saint Vincent’s University Hospital, D04 T6F4 Dublin, Ireland; (D.S.); (N.D.D.); (H.E.M.)
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Louise McHugh
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (V.E.M.); (L.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
van Lill X, van Lill R. Developing a brief acceptance and commitment therapy model for industrial psychologists. SA JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.4102/sajip.v48i0.1897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
|
7
|
Hochard KD, Hulbert-Williams L, Ashcroft S, McLoughlin S. Acceptance and values clarification versus cognitive restructuring and relaxation: A randomized controlled trial of ultra-brief non-expert-delivered coaching interventions for social resilience. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
8
|
Weinstein JH, Kroska EB, Walser RD. The empowerment plan: Enhancing the safety plan with a CBS approach to repertoire expansion. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
9
|
Shaw TA, Juncos DG, Winter D. Piloting a New Model for Treating Music Performance Anxiety: Training a Singing Teacher to Use Acceptance and Commitment Coaching With a Student. Front Psychol 2020; 11:882. [PMID: 32547438 PMCID: PMC7270208 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Thus far, treatments for music performance anxiety (MPA) have focused primarily on interventions administered by psychologists and mental health clinicians with training and education in psychotherapy. While these interventions are promising or even efficacious, many musicians prefer not to work with a psychotherapist due to stigma and lack of time/access. Student musicians are particularly vulnerable to developing MPA, and while they may prefer consulting with their teachers about MPA over psychotherapists, many teachers feel unqualified to help. Here, we investigated an alternative intervention model, in which a clinical psychologist with MPA expertise trained a singing teacher with no training or education in psychotherapy to use an evidence-based coaching model, Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC), with a student vocalist with problematic MPA, in a single-subject design format. ACC is a version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) that has been used under various names with non-clinical populations to help enhance psychological flexibility, e.g., with athletes, at the workplace, with undergraduates, and others. The teacher received approximately seven hours of ACC training via Skype. In turn, she provided six one-hour ACC sessions to a university student vocalist. Materials for the training and coaching sessions were taken from an ACC book and an ACT-based self-help book for musicians, and the teacher also adhered to a GROW model of coaching. The student made clinically significant improvements in two ACT-based processes believed to correlate with improved psychological flexibility in previous ACT for MPA psychotherapy research, i.e., acceptance of MPA-related discomfort and defusion from MPA-related thoughts. The student also reported a significant shift had occurred in his thinking: he became more willing to have his MPA, and so he volunteered to sing in classes early in the upcoming semester, and he auditioned for & won a lead role in a musical, both of which he previously avoided doing. ACC appears to be a promising MPA intervention that can be administered by a music teacher without training or education in psychotherapy, and it may help schools who do not employ psychologists and are therefore unable to follow best practice guidelines for treating MPA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A Shaw
- Department of Music, University of Chichester, Chichester, United Kingdom
| | - David G Juncos
- Centre for Voice Studies, East Bergholt, United Kingdom.,Hornstein, Platt & Associates, Counseling and Wellness Centers, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Debbie Winter
- Centre for Voice Studies, East Bergholt, United Kingdom.,Wales Academy for Professional Practice and Applied Research, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Carmarthen, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|