Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations

Clinical Psychology: Research and Practice Innovations"

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and existential therapy on the psychological well-being of female students with generalized anxiety disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zohreh Sharif 1
Alireza Merati 2
Mehdi Yousefvand 3
1 Ph.D Student in Psychology, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22075/jcp.2025.34434.2913
Abstract
Introduction: This comparative study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and existential therapy on the psychological well-being of female students with generalized anxiety disorder.
Methods: The method of study was quasi-experimental with a control group. The statistical population included all the female students of the second-grade high schools in the district 1 of Karaj in 2023-2024. Forty-five people were randomly selected as samples and divided into three experimental and control groups. The fourth edition of the generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire and the psychological well-being test were used to collect data. The experimental groups received ACT and existential therapy during 10 sessions. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance and Bonferroni's post hoc test.
Results: ACT and existential therapy increase psychological well-being (P<0.01). The existential therapy effect was greater than other method (P<0.01). The 2-month follow-up results revealed the stability of the interventions (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Both methods are effective in increasing psychological well-being. Thus, it is recommended that existential therapy be used by clinical therapists and experts in treatment centers for people with generalized anxiety disorder.
Keywords
"acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT)"
"existential therapy"
"generalized anxiety"
"psychological well-being"
"students"
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 13 June 2024
  • Revise Date 26 December 2025
  • Accept Date 03 August 2025
  • First Publish Date 03 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026