ACT-based intervention among older adults in Poland _ study 2_2021
Description
Study: The effectiveness of psychological skills training based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in the group of older adults in Poland. Participants. Volunteers for the study were recruited in June 2021 from the daily care homes for older people in Poland. The research lasted from August to November 2021. The inclusion criteria were age over 60 years old and/or not attending the psychotherapy sessions during the previous year. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The participants fulfilled the demographics questionnaire. The participants were 60-95 years old [M= 75,6; SD=7,61]. The majority of participants were women [80%]. From the primary and occupational education graduated 72 % of researched people. The vast majority of them [80%] were dwellers of villages and small towns with less than 10 thousand dwellers; 20 percent of researched people lived in small towns with 10-30 thousand dwellers. Almost all of the participants were retired [99%]. Volunteers signed the informed consent and were randomly assigned to either experimental (N= 50) or control group (N= 50). The participants of both groups were given schedules of sessions (12 weeks, 1 session per week). All participants filled in the baseline measurement questionnaires in person. The training sessions in both groups were held in group format (10-15 people) and conducted by psychologists or therapists. The post-training measurement took place straight after the completion of the training programmes – at about 12 weeks after the baseline questionnaire assessment. Training programmes. Experimental group training consisted of a 12-module original programme entitled “Arte Vitae”, which was based on the premises of ACT therapy and designed on the basis of scientific literature (Hayes, Smith, 2019; Harris, 2019; Forsyth, Eifert, 2016). The intervention protocol is presented in a separate paper (Chojak, Papińska, 2020). Each programme module (20-40 minutes) included elements of psychoeducation, breathing exercises, listening to a recording, and a written exercise. The contents of the ‘Arte Vitae’ programme is related to building psychological competences, based on the core ACT processes. Control group training. Training for the control group was based on the premises of the positive psychology. The original programme comprised of five exercises which were to be completed within one week and focused on practising gratitude, building awareness of what is the most positive about oneself and on identifying strengths of character ( Peterson, Seligman, 2004). References: Chojak, A., & Papińska, A. The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy-based intervention in therapy for mental health disorders–case study. Advances in Psychiatry and Neurology/Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 29(4), 250-258. Peterson, C., Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Oxford: Oxford University Press.