@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2008-2630    Iranian Journal of War & Public Health 2015;7(4):183-188

Background
… [1-8] Functional flexibility is person’s capability to form bio-psychological equilibrium in dangerous situations [9]. In other words, functional flexibility is a return to the base equilibrium or achieving a higher level equilibrium in dangerous conditions, leading to a successful compatibility in life [10-14]. … [15, 16]
Previous Studies
Acceptance-based treatment has been effective on treating many psychological disorders and personal and inter-personal problems and distresses showing psychological inflexibility [17-26].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment on the enhancement of psychological flexibility and helping the promotion of psychological health in the spouses of the veterans.
Research type
This is a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest plan and follow-up with a control group.
Research society, place and time
The spouses of veterans referred to Shahed Counseling Centers of Isfahan, Iran, were studied in 2015.
Sampling method and number
34 spouses with the symptoms of anxiety, hopelessness, depression, and distress were selected as sample group via available sampling. The subjects were divided into experimental and control groups (n=17 per group) using random method.
Used devices&materials
Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire assessing age, education level, injury percentage of the veteran, and marital status, and acceptance and action questionnaire II (AAQII) [27-29]. Internal consistency (a=0.87) and retest reliability (r=0.80) of 10-question AAQII has been confirmed. And scoring is on 7-scale Likert from 1 (“It is never true on me.”) to 7 (“It is always true on me.”). Lower scores show more intention and capability to act and presence of the negative thoughts and feelings, while higher scores show more psychological flexibility. There were eight 90-minute treatment sessions based on acceptance and commitment in experimental group as 2 sessions a week (Table 1). After conducting the pretest, control group received no treatment until treatments after the end of the intervention period and treatment follow-up. After the end of the sessions, the questionnaires were completed again by the groups. To follow up in 45 days, the questionnaires were completed again by the groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS 21 software. Repeated-measurement ANOVA was used to compute pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. Bonferroni’s post-hoc was used to compare flexibility as paired in time series.
Findings by Text
There was a considerable difference between the mean scores of pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages in experimental group. Nevertheless, the scores of the posttest stage were relatively constant in the follow-up stage (Table 2). There was a significant difference between the mean scores of flexibility in the pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages in experimental group (p<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups (p<0.05). The treatment effectiveness time from the posttest stage to the follow-up stage was ineffective, and there was no decrease in the intervention effects in the follow-up stage than the post-test stage. There were significant differences between the mean scores of pretest and posttest (p<0.01) and pretest and follow-up (p<0.01). In addition, the mean scores of the posttest stage was constant in the follow-up stage, and the effects of the treatment period based on group commitment and acceptance on the enhancement of the flexibility of the veterans’ spouses were still constant (p=0.99).
Main comparison to the similar studies
There was a significant increase in the mean flexibility score of experimental group passing from pretest to posttest and follow-up stages than control group. The results are consistent with some studies showing effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment on the improvement of difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility, emotional avoidance, and anxiety reduction [30, 31]. The acceptance strategies can improve life satisfaction and psychological flexibility performances in patients with chronic pains [17, 22, 23]. Acceptance and commitment are effective on treating the psychological and psychosomatic disorders [21]. Such interventions lead to reductions in the psychological and inter-personal distresses and increases in acceptance and performances, concentration, marital quality, and marital compatibility [26]. There are, also, reductions in distress and social phobia [24, 25]. … [32, 33]
Suggestions
The effectiveness of treatments based on acceptance and commitment should be investigated on the problems with which the veterans’ spouses are facing.
Limitations
Lack of any control on the characteristics, education level, and socio-economic statuses of the spouses were of the limitations for the present study.
Conclusions
Treatment based on group commitment and acceptance is effective and useful to enhance the psychological flexibility of the veterans’ spouses, and the method might be useful in reducing the psychological damages in the families.
Acknowledgments
All the spouses are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
The participants were confirmed on the confidentiality of information. They were, also, mentally prepared to participate in the study.
Funding Sources
The study was funded by the authors.

TABLES and CHARTS

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