An internet-delivered acceptance and commitment therapy program for anxious affect, depression, and wellbeing: A randomized, parallel, two-group, waitlistcontrolled trial in a Middle Eastern sample of college students

Abstract

Background College students during the young adult years are at elevated risk for the development of anxiety and depressive difficulties. Moreover, a preliminary body of evidence suggests that, for those who reside in Middle Eastern contexts, despite an established need, sociocultural impediments prevent active psychological help-seeking. Internet-delivered, self-directed mental health programs may hold significant promise to alleviate these difficulties in contexts where individuals would otherwise not enlist the support of a mental health practitioner. Method The present study developed a bespoke, 4-module, internet-delivered program based upon acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) principles and tested its feasibility and efficacy within the context a randomized controlled trial. A total of 129 participants were randomized to receive either the ACT program or to a waitlist control condition. Assessments of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depressive affect, and wellbeing were administered at baseline and at post-intervention. Results Analyses indicated that the intervention was efficacious in mitigating both generalized and social anxiety and in improving wellbeing. Conclusion These results provide preliminary evidence of the feasibility and efficacy of internet-delivered ACT in a Middle Eastern context.