The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological capital and psychological well-being of patients with thalassemia: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on psychological capital and psychological well-being of patients with thalassemia. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental trial with a pretest-posttest design along with a control group. The statistical population included all patients with thalassemia referred to the office of the Thalassemia Association located in Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital in Kermanshah. Thirty patients were selected as the sample by targeted sampling method and then randomly assigned to experimental and control groups equally (each n=15). The instruments included Ryff psychological well-being questionnaire and Luthan’s Psychological Capital Questionnaire. After performing the pretest, the experimental group underwent an ACT intervention, while the control group received no treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 according to analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: There was a significant difference between the mean of psychological well-being and psychological capital variables in both experimental and control groups (P=0.014 and P=0.005 respectively). By eliminating the effect of pre-test psychological capital scores as a covariate variable, the main effect of the independent variable on post-test psychological capital scores was significant (F=53.601, P=0.001). By eliminating the effect of pre-test psychological capital scores as a covariate variable, the main effect of the independent variable on post-test psychological well-being scores was significant (F=181.34, P=0.001). Conclusion: ACT was effective on the psychological capital and the psychological well-being of thalassemia patients. Moreover, ACT can be used to improve the psychological capital and psychological well-being of patients with thalassemia.