Abstract
Objective
To explore the relationship between the core Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
processes (mindfulness, self as context, acceptance, defusion, values, and committed
action) and anxiety and stress in a sample of individuals with spinal cord injury
(SCI).
Design
Variance accounted for by ACT on anxiety and stress as outcome variables was examined
using multiple linear regression.
Setting
Study measures were completed via online survey.
Participants
159 participants with a SCI completed self-report study measures relevant to the ACT
core processes as well as measures of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress.
Main Outcome Measures
Outcome measures included the Spinal Cord Injury—Quality of Life Anxiety subdomain
and the Perceived Stress Scale.
Results
Higher reported engagement with acceptance (β=0.238, P=.004), pursuit of values (β=0.187, P<.008), and defusion (β=0.351, P<.001) related to less anxious distress. Perceived stress was predicted by depression
(β = 0.230, P=.038) and the ACT core processes as a whole (P<.001).
Conclusions
: The results of our study indicate that considerable variance in anxiety and stress
in individuals with SCI is accounted for by the core processes of ACT. Lower levels
of anxiety and stress were predicted by the ACT components as a whole. Anxiety was
uniquely predicted by pursuit of values, acceptance, and defusion, indicating these
3 components of ACT may be particularly beneficial in the treatment of anxiety in
SCI. These results may provide targeted treatment opportunities via tailored ACT-based
interventions.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
AAQ-II (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), MAAS (Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), PSS (Perceived Stress Scale), QOL (quality of life), SCI (spinal cord injury), VQ (Valuing Questionnaire), VQ-Obs (VQ Obstruction), VQ-Prog (VQ Progress)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 04, 2022
Accepted:
November 14,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 29,
2022
Received:
July 6,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofFootnotes
This study was funded by the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
