Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on the Components of Family Resilience

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the components of family resilience. Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental design was used with a control group, pre-test, post-test, and a 5-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of 407 mothers of intellectually disabled children in Tehran Province, from which 36 participants were selected via simple random sampling. Participants were assigned to three groups: ACT (n = 12), MBCT (n = 12), and a control group (n = 12). The Family Resilience Scale by Sixbey (2005) was used for data collection, and an ANCOVA was employed for data analysis using SPSS software. Findings: The results of this study showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) had a significant positive impact on all six components of family resilience, including family communication and problem-solving, social and economic resources, family bonding, family spirituality, positive outlook, and meaning-making (P < 0.01). In contrast, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) had a significant effect on four components—family communication and problem-solving, social and economic resources, family bonding, and family spirituality—while its impact on the remaining two components was relatively weak. Conclusion: The findings underscore the significance of third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies in addressing psychological challenges among this population. Future studies should explore these interventions across more diverse groups and larger samples.