The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Perceived Stress and Health Anxiety in Women with Breast Cancer
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Objective: Cancer, as a chronic physical illness, disrupts both the physical and psychological capacities of individuals, creating a distressing condition for the patient that diminishes quality of life, deteriorates mental health, and reduces overall well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on perceived stress and health anxiety in women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a non-equivalent control group design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. A purposive sample of 30 women with breast cancer (aged 20–45) referred to medical centers in Tehran in 2023 was selected. Participants were randomly assigned to an ACT intervention group or a control group (n=15). The intervention group received ten 90-minute ACT sessions based on Hayes et al.’s (2004) protocol. Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI). Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.
Findings: Findings revealed a significant reduction in perceived stress and health anxiety in the ACT group compared to the control group at both post-test and follow-up stages (p<0.001). Effect sizes indicated strong practical significance across all variables.
Conclusion: ACT appears to be an effective intervention for improving psychological well-being in women with breast cancer by reducing stress-related symptoms. These findings support the integration of ACT into supportive care for breast cancer patients.
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