The Effect of Two Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Based Counseling Methods on Psychological Flexibility in Mothers With Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 尚未招募
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 135
- 主要终点
- Change in Psychological Flexibility Scale Total Score
研究概览
简要总结
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate two Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based counseling approaches for mothers whose infants are hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Mothers of infants in the NICU may experience high levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. ACT is an approach that aims to improve psychological flexibility by helping people respond more effectively to difficult thoughts, emotions, and stressful experiences.
A total of 135 mothers will be enrolled from two hospitals in Istanbul, Türkiye. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: an individual online ACT-based workshop, an ACT-based chatbot counseling program, or standard care.
Mothers in the online workshop group will receive one individual 60-minute online session that includes mindfulness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action exercises. Mothers in the chatbot group will receive ACT-based psychoeducation, guided exercises, and supportive digital counseling through a mobile application for four weeks. Mothers in the control group will receive the routine information and care normally provided in the NICU.
Psychological flexibility will be the primary outcome. Depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms will be evaluated as secondary outcomes. Assessments will be completed at baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and at the 6-month follow-up.
The study aims to determine whether ACT-based online and digital counseling can improve psychological flexibility and reduce psychological distress among mothers of infants hospitalized in the NICU.
详细描述
This study is a three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of two ACT-based counseling delivery methods on psychological flexibility and psychological distress among mothers whose infants are hospitalized in the NICU.
The study will be conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units of Istanbul Atlas University Hospital and Gaziosmanpasa Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. A total of 135 eligible mothers will be enrolled, with approximately 45 participants allocated to each study group.
Participants will be assigned to the three groups using stratified block randomization. Stratification will be based on study site and infant gestational status, with the aim of achieving balanced allocation across the intervention groups.
ACT-Based Online Workshop Group:
Participants assigned to this group will receive an individual, synchronous online ACT-based psychoeducational session lasting approximately 60 minutes. The session will include present-moment awareness and mindfulness, acceptance of difficult emotional experiences, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action. Participants will also be encouraged to practice brief mindfulness exercises during the four-week follow-up period.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Supportive Care
- 盲法
- None
盲法说明
Statistical analyses will be conducted using coded group labels (A, B, and C), with group identities concealed during analysis and revealed after completion of the analyses.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Biological mother of an infant currently hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at one of the participating study sites.
- •Aged 18 years or older. Able to read and understand Turkish. Has access to a smartphone and uses a messaging application. Willing to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.
排除标准
- •Presence of a psychotic disorder or current use of psychiatric medication. Mother of an infant admitted to the NICU for same-day care only. Mother of an infant receiving palliative care or considered to be in the terminal stage.
- •Unable to read and understand Turkish.
研究组 & 干预措施
ACT-Based Online Workshop
Participants assigned to this arm will receive an individual, synchronous online ACT-based psychoeducational workshop lasting approximately 60 minutes. The session will include mindfulness and present-moment awareness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action. Participants will also be encouraged to practice brief mindfulness exercises during the four-week follow-up period.
干预措施: ACT-Based Online Psychoeducational Workshop (Behavioral)
ACT-Based Chatbot Counseling
Participants assigned to this arm will receive ACT-based digital counseling through a mobile chatbot for four weeks. The chatbot will provide structured psychoeducation, brief exercises, and supportive guidance based on mindfulness, acceptance, cognitive defusion, values clarification, and committed action. Participants will be able to use the application at times convenient to them throughout the intervention period.
干预措施: ACT-Based Chatbot Counseling (Behavioral)
Standard Care
Participants assigned to this arm will receive the routine information, counseling, and clinical care normally provided to mothers of infants hospitalized in the NICU. No additional ACT-based psychoeducational workshop or chatbot-based counseling intervention will be provided.
结局指标
主要结局
Change in Psychological Flexibility Scale Total Score
时间窗: Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Month 6
Psychological flexibility will be assessed using the 28-item Psychological Flexibility Scale. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale. The scale assesses core dimensions of psychological flexibility, including openness to experience, behavioral awareness, and valued action. Changes in total scores over time will be compared among the ACT-based online workshop, ACT-based chatbot counseling, and standard care groups.
次要结局
- Change in DASS-21 Stress Subscale Score(Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Month 6)
- Change in DASS-21 Anxiety Subscale Score(Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Month 6)
- Change in DASS-21 Depression Subscale Score(Baseline, Week 2, Week 4, and Month 6)
研究者
Meserret Aslan
Lecturer
Atlas University