Wellbeing Wednesdays: a pilot trial of acceptance and commitment therapy embedded in a freshman seminar

Author:

Browning Morgan E.ORCID,Lloyd-Richardson Elizabeth E.ORCID,Trisal Akshay V.,Kelleher Victoria G.,Kayyal Mary H.,Schierberl Scherr Anna E.

Abstract

Abstract University students face vast mental health challenges, and both attitudinal and structural barriers to seeking care. Embedding interventions in college courses is one solution. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an ideal candidate intervention given its emphasis on values, context, and skill building from a transdiagnostic perspective. This study embedded a brief ACT intervention in a required freshman seminar that was delivered by trained but unlicensed graduate students. In two class sessions of the freshman seminar taught by the same instructor, one session was randomly assigned to receive the course as usual, and one session received the ACT intervention. ACT content was delivered to all students in the intervention course on five consecutive weekly class periods. Students in both classes who chose to participate in the study completed assessments before and after the intervention and at follow-up. There were no significant changes with tests that were run, including non-parametric tests given the small sample sizes. Descriptively, the intervention group had slight improvements in wellbeing and mindfulness and decreases in distress, and the control group had worsened wellbeing, mindfulness and distress. A moderate portion of intervention group students enjoyed the intervention and indicated use of ACT skills, particularly mindfulness. Results suggest that this classroom-based intervention was feasible and acceptable, but further study should occur given small sample sizes. Future work should continue course-based ACT interventions, and should also explore potential applications of student training to deliver interventions given the shortage of mental health providers on college campuses. Key learning aims (1) Can acceptance and commitment therapy content and skills be integrated into an existing freshman seminar curriculum? (2) Can acceptance and commitment therapy improve wellbeing and decrease distress amongst college students? (3) How will students engage with and practise acceptance and commitment therapy skills outside of the context of session delivery?

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Subject

Clinical Psychology,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Reference110 articles.

1. Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire: a new measure;Endicott;Psychopharmacology Bulletin,1993

2. Boone, M. S. , & Myler, C. (2012). Act for Depression and Anxiety Group. Unpublished training manual. Available at: https://contextualscience.org/act_for_depression_and_anxiety_group_cornell_univ

3. The effects of an exposure therapy training program for pre-professionals in an intensive exposure-based summer camp

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3