How do ACT core processes underlie loneliness and psychological health? A study among people with and without physical chronic disease

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aims: To explore the differences between individuals with and without chronic physical disease regarding cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, uncommitted action, loneliness, and psychological health. A model that hypothesized that cognitive fusion has an effect on loneliness and psychological health, through higher experiential avoidance and less committed actions was also tested. Method: The sample comprised 765 participants (304 with chronic physical disease, 461 without a chronic physical disease) and completed an online survey. Results: Participants with chronic physical diseases reported higher levels of cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance and loneliness, and lower levels of psychological health, when compared to participants without chronic physical disease. In both groups, cognitive fusion was positively linked with experiential avoidance and loneliness and negatively linked with committed action and psychological health. The model explained 36% of loneliness and 57% of the psychological health’s variances. Cognitive fusion is associated with loneliness and decreased psychological health, through higher levels of experiential avoidance and lower levels of committed action, even controlling for the effect of age. Discussion: Findings offer important suggestions on how the ACT core processes underlie loneliness and psychological health and support the development of interventions that target cognitive defusion, acceptance skills and committed actions to reduce loneliness and increase psychological health.