A Mixed-Method Study Exploring the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Group Psychoeducation Program on Psychological Flexibility

Year 2020, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 355 - 375, 15.10.2020

Beyza Kırca Halil Ekşi

Abstract

This study aims to develop, implement, and test the effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based psychoeducation program for fostering psychological flexibility. The study employed a convergent mixed methods design. For the quantitative phase, the pre-test post-test control group experimental design was used, while in the qualitative phase, a thematic analysis was conducted. The study group consisted of 13 first-year students of the Department of Guidance and Counseling, and Psychology, aged between 18-22, 8 of whom are in the experiment group, and 5 in the control group. The students participated in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. Before and after the psychoeducation, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II was administered to the students and they were also asked to answer the formerly specified open-ended questions in writing. Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests were used for statistical analysis; while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative component of the study. Quantitative findings showed that psychoeducation significantly increased psychological flexibility, but the change was not at a level to differ from the control group; while qualitative findings revealed that participants experienced changes in 10 themes after psychoeducation. These themes are Being Present, Self-Control, Value-Based Actions, Defusion and Coping with Feelings and Thoughts, Knowledge of Self and Others, Acceptance, Non-Avoidance, Conflict and Crisis Management, Authenticity, and Anxiety. The quantitative and qualitative findings are discussed in light of the relevant literature.

Keywords

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychological flexibility, Mindfulness, Group psychoeducation

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi Temelli Psikolojik Esneklik Grup Psikoeğitim Programının Etkililiğini Ölçmeye Yönelik Karma Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Bu araştırmada psikolojik esnekliği geliştirmek üzere Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi temelli bir psikoeğitim programının geliştirilmesi, uygulanması ve etkililiğinin sınanması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada yakınsak karma yöntem kullanılmıştır. Nicel kısımda ön test son test kontrol gruplu deneysel desen, nitel kısımda ise tematik analiz kullanılmıştır. Çalışma grubu, yaşları 18-22 arasında değişen, 8’i deney 5’i kontrol grubunda olmak üzere 13 Rehberlik ve Psikolojik Danışmanlık ve Psikoloji Bölümü birinci sınıf öğrencisinden oluşmuştur. Öğrencilerle 90 dakikalık 8 oturum gerçekleştirilmiştir. Öncesi ve sonrasında öğrencilere Kabul ve Eylem Formu II uygulanmış, ayrıca belirlenmiş açık uçlu sorulara yazılı olarak cevap vermeleri istenmiştir. Nicel veriler, Mann Whitney U ve Wilcoxon İşaretli Sıralar testi ile; nitel veriler ise tematik analiz yöntemiyle incelenmiştir. Nicel bulgular, psikoeğitimin psikolojik esnekliği anlamlı şekilde arttırdığını fakat değişimin kontrol grubundan farklılaşacak düzeyde olmadığını göstermiştir. Nitel bulgular ise psikoeğitim sonrası 10 temada katılımcıların değişim yaşadığını ortaya koymuştur. Bu temalar Anda Kalma, Öz-Kontrol, Değer Odaklı Eylemler, Duygu ve Düşüncelerle Ayrışma ve Baş Etme, Kendini ve İnsanları Tanıma, Kabul, Kaçınmama, Çatışma ve Kriz Yönetme, Otantik Olma ve Kaygıdır. Nicel ve nitel bulgular ilgili literatür eşliğinde tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

Kabul ve Kararlılık Terapisi, Psikolojik esneklik, Bilinçli farkındalık, Grup psikoeğitimi

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