Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy on the Tendency Toward Risky Behaviors and Life Orientation Among Adolescents in Conflict with Parents

Adolescence, the most sensitive and critical stage of human development, is accompanied by behavioral issues and a tendency toward independence, which can lead to risky behaviors and procrastination. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based training and mindfulness on the tendency toward risky behaviors and life orientation among adolescents in conflict with their parents. A total of 45 adolescents in conflict with their parents were selected using convenience sampling and randomly divided into three groups: the first group received acceptance and commitment-based training, the second group received mindfulness training, and the third group served as the control group without any intervention (15 individuals per group). Standardized questionnaires measuring tendencies toward risky behaviors and life orientation were utilized in the pre-test and post-test phases. The findings revealed that acceptance, commitment-based training, and mindfulness significantly reduced tendencies toward risky behaviors and improved positive life orientation (P<0.05). However, comparing the two methods showed that the acceptance and commitment-based approach was more effective in reducing tendencies toward risky behaviors and enhancing positive life orientation than mindfulness (P<0.05). Overall, the results emphasize the necessity of psychological training methods to reduce parent-adolescent conflicts and improve adolescent adaptive behaviors. This study provides parents, counselors, and teachers with a better understanding of the importance of utilizing novel psychological approaches to enhance mental health and reduce adolescent risky behaviors. Future research is recommended to explore the effects of these interventions on other demographic groups and over more extended periods.