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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07256093

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Dysfunctional Attitudes and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Among University Students in Malaysia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can reduce dysfunctional attitudes and difficulties in emotion regulation among university students in Malaysia.The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Will participants who receive ACT show statistically significant reduction in dysfunctional attitudes scores compared to those in the control group? * Will participants who receive ACT show statistically significant reduction in difficulties in emotion regulation scores compared to those in the control group? * Will participants who receive ACT show statistically significant reduction in dysfunctional attitudes scores from pre-test to intermediate-test and from pre-test to post-test? * Will participants who receive ACT show statistically significant reduction in difficulties in emotion regulation scores from pre-test to intermediate test and from pre-test to post-test?

Researchers will compare ACT group to a waitlist control group to see if ACT work to reduce dysfunctional attitudes and difficulties in emotion regulation.

Participants in the ACT group will

* attend six weekly individual sessions of ACT intervention (1 hour per session) conducted online * complete the outcome measures at three different time points (week 1, week 3, and week 6)

Meanwhile, participants in the waitlist control group

* will not receive any intervention during the data collection period * will be asked to complete same outcome measures at three different time points (week 1, week 3, and week 6)

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Key information

Conditions

Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Stress

Age range

18 year–32 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Malaysian citizens
  • currently enrolled as a university student
  • be proficient in both Malay and English languages
  • aged between 18 and 32 years old
  • reported mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and/or stress levels according to the DASS-21

Exclusion criteria

  • reported severe depression, anxiety, and/or stress on the DASS-21
  • expected to graduate before study ends
  • had been diagnosed with any psychological disorder prior to the study
  • were currently receiving psychotherapeutic medication and/or psychological interventions.

Treatment and study plan

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Other

Six sessions of ACT were conducted

Session 1:

Introduction. Theme: Broaden your horizon. Values and value-based actions. Identifying what matters the most in your life and acting accordingly.

Session 2: Theme: Present moment. Mindfully notice your internal and external experiences, notice the movement of your breath. Live in the present moment. To address difficulties in emotion regulation.

Session 3: Theme: Cognitive defusion. The power of thoughts. Identify your unwanted thoughts and emotions and learn to describe, name, and welcome them. To address dysfunctional attitudes.

Session 4: Theme: The observer's stance. Learn to view your thoughts and emotions from an observer's stance. To address difficulties in emotion regulation.

Session 5: Theme: Toward an attitude of acceptance. Let go of your struggle and learn acceptance towards your wakefulness and unwanted thoughts. To address dysfunctional attitudes.

Session 6: Theme: Summary of the programme. Plans committed action.

Primary outcomes

  1. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, and Week 6

    It is measured as the total score on the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-18 Malay, where a higher score indicates a greater degree of difficulties in emotion regulation.

  2. Dysfunctional Attitudes

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 3, and Week 6

    It is measured as the total score on the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale-Malay, where a higher score indicates a greater degree of dysfunctional attitude.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Dysfunctional Attitudes and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Among University Students in Malaysia.

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 1, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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