Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT04307706

Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Parents of Disabled Child

This study was carried out to determine the effect of ACT-based interventions applied to parents of special needs children (CSN) on their levels of psychological inflexibility, psychological resilience, depression, anxiety, stress, and caregiver burden.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Anxiety Depression Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Caregiver Burden Caregiver Burnout Public Health Nurse Special Needs Children Stress Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Gaziantep University

Gaziantep, University Boulevard, 27310, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This research is a pretest, posttest, follow-up, randomized controlled experimental study. The research was carried out in Şehitkamil and Şahinbey districts, which are two central districts of Gaziantep Province. 60 parents with disabled children were included in the study (intervention: 30 parents, control: 30 parents). The research data was collected as pretest, posttest and follow-up test from the intervention group between April and December 2019, and the control group between April and September 2019 in three stages. Parental Identification Form, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Adult Psychological Resilience Scale (RSA-21) were used as data collection form. After the pre-test data was collected, the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Intervention Program was applied to the intervention group in six sessions. The duration of each session lasted on average 60-90 minutes. A session was held for each parent once a week. The control group participated in the training carried out by the guidance service.

The intervention programme based on ACT was prepared with the aim of reducing levels of psychological inflexibility, caregiver burden, depression, anxiety and stress, and of increasing levels of psychological resilience in parents of CSN.

In the preparation of the interventions and planning of the sessions based on ACT, the researcher utilised studies in the literature and the basic ACT training she had received. After preparation of the ACT intervention protocol, it was given its final shape by obtaining the views of specialists working in this field. The sessions were prepared based on six components of psychological flexibility found at the basis of ACT.

Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), special needs child, psychological inflexibility, resilience, depression-anxiety-stress levels, caregiver burden, public health nurse.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Parents with children at the Gaziantep Private Education Practice Schools I. and II. stage (the mother or father will be the person who is primarily responsible for the child's care).
  • Those living in the central districts of Gaziantep province,
  • Those who have not received any such training (ACT) or received any psychiatric treatment/support or therapy,
  • There is currently no ongoing psychological or psychiatric treatment,
  • Does not have problems such as substance/alcohol addiction,
  • Without communication disabilities (hearing and speaking),
  • Speaking Turkish,
  • Literate,
  • Parents who agreed to participate in the research

Exclusion criteria

  • Parents with cognitive impairment (mental retardation or a psychiatric diagnosis),
  • Parents who have previously received psychiatric support or therapy,
  • Parents with problems such as substance/alcohol abuse,
  • Has a communication disability (hearing-speaking),
  • Using a language other than Turkish,
  • Illiterate parents

Treatment and study plan

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Behavioral

The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Intervention Program was applied to the intervention group in six sessions. The duration of each session lasted on average 60-90 minutes. A session was held for each parent once a week.

Primary outcomes

  1. Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II)

    Time frame: 8 months

    The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire consists of 7 items and evaluates information about psychological consistency. the minimum and maximum values of scale changes between 7 and 49 points. Interpretation of score for scale; the high total score obtained from the scale shows that the level of "psychological consistency" is also high.

  2. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)

    Time frame: 8 months

    The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) is a set of three self-report scales designed to measure the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress.

    Each of the three DASS-21 scales contains 7 items, divided into subscales with similar content. The depression scale assesses dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest / involvement, anhedonia and inertia. The anxiety scale assesses autonomic arousal, skeletal muscle effects, situational anxiety, and subjective experience of anxious affect. The stress scale is sensitive to levels of chronic non-specific arousal. It assesses difficulty relaxing, nervous arousal, and being easily upset / agitated, irritable / over-reactive and impatient. Scores for depression, anxiety and stress are calculated by summing the scores for the relevant items.

  3. Adult Psychological Resilience Scale (RSA-21)

    Time frame: 8 months

    The Adult Psychological Resilience Scale consists of 21 items and evaluates information about psychological resilience. Minimum 21 points and maximum 105 points are obtained from the scale. The high total score obtained from the scale indicates that the level of "psychological resilience" is high.

  4. The Zarit Burden Scale

    Time frame: 9 months

    The Zarit Burden Interview consists of 22 items and evaluates information about caregiver burden.Interpretation of Score: 0 - 21 little or no burden, 21 - 40 mild to moderate burden, 41 - 60 moderate to severe burden, 61 - 88 severe burden. The higher the score obtained, the higher the burden level

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Akdeniz University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Interventions Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Administered to Parents of Special Needs Children on Their Levels of Psychological Resilience, Depression, Anxiety, Stress and Caregiver Burden: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Acronym: ACT

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Mar 13, 2020
Registry last updated
Oct 19, 2020

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.