The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Self-Criticism and Pessimistic Marital Expectation in Neurotic Perfectionist Girls

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. student in counseling, Department of Counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Susangard Branch, Islamic Azad University, Susangard, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Masjid Sulaiman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Masjid Sulaiman, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Self-Criticism and Pessimistic Marital Expectation in Neurotic Perfectionist girls.

Method: The statistical population consisted of all Neurotic Perfectionist girls in Ahvaz (2022). The research sample consisted of 5 girls that were selected according to the results of the neurotic perfectionism questionnaires (NPQ), using purposeful sampling method. In this research, a single-case experimental design, type of concurrent multiple baseline designs was used. To evaluate the Self-Criticism, The Levels of Self-Criticism Scale and Pessimistic Marital Expectation, Marital Expectation Scale were used. Instruments were Thompson and Zuroff ʼs The Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LSCS) (2004) and Jones & Nelson ʼs Pessimistic Marital Expectation Scale (1996).

Findings: The data was collected in three phases of baseline, during intervention, and three month follow-up. The findings indicate that the subjects in the treatment phase experienced improvement in Self-Criticism (21.42) and Pessimistic Marital Expectation (18.23), and in the follow-up in regards to Self-Criticism (51.68) and Pessimistic Marital Expectation (24.86). The change index was indicative of meaningful changes (z=1.96 α=0.05).

Conclusion: the research findings illustrated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy reduces Self-Criticism and Pessimistic Marital Expectation by increasing psychological flexibility.

Keywords

Clinical Psychology and Personality

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 March 2024

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