Group Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) With Healthy Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Aging; Quality of Life
• Interventions: Behavioral: Acceptance and Commitment Training

• Registration Number: NCT03839329
• Lead Sponsor: Anne Roche, MA

Brief Summary

The current study aims to explore the impact of a two-session group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention compared to an assessment-only control on psychological outcomes in healthy older adults. The proposed study has two main objectives.

1. Examine the impact the intervention on targeted ACT processes over time

2. Examine the impact of the intervention on aspects of eudaimonic well-being over time

Detailed Description

Older adults are a growing segment of our population, and this period of life presents a variety of physical, emotional, environmental, and cognitive changes, even for healthy individuals. The current study aims to explore the impact of a two-session group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention compared to an assessment-only control on psychological outcomes in healthy, community-dwelling older adults.

Participants will be randomly assigned (stratified by sex) to the ACT group condition or to an assessment-only control group. After randomization, those in the assessment-only control group will be asked to complete four assessments via mail (baseline, one-month, three-month, and six-month). The intervention group will participate in a brief group ACT intervention occurring over two sessions (90 minutes each, approximately one week apart). Intervention participants will also complete assessments at baseline and at one-month, three-months, and six-months post-intervention.

The specific aims and hypotheses of the current study are:

Specific Aim #1: To examine longitudinal between-group differences in targeted ACT processes including psychological flexibility (openness to experience, behavioral awareness, and valued action) and satisfaction with social roles and activities from baseline to follow-up. We hypothesize that there will be significant time by group interaction, such that psychological flexibility and satisfaction with social roles and activities will increase significantly more in the intervention group relative to the assessment-only control group.

Specific Aim #2: To examine longitudinal between-group differences in eudaimonic well-being (purpose in life and personal growth) from baseline to follow-up. We hypothesize that there will be significant time by group interactions, such that purpose in life and personal growth will increase significantly more in the intervention group relative to the assessment-only control group.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-02-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-02-11
• Study First Posted: 2019-02-15
• Study Start: 2019-04-17
• Primary Completion: 2020-09-01
• Study Completion: 2020-09-01
• Status Verified: 2020-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-11-11
• Last Update Posted: 2020-11-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 81

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy, community-dwelling older adult (age 65-99)

Exclusion Criteria

• significant primary psychiatric disease
• medications that have the potential to affect cognitive functioning
• neurological events

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
ACT Group Condition	Acceptance and Commitment Training	The ACT group condition will receive two 90-minute group Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) workshops (scheduled approximately one week apart) and will complete assessments.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Differences in change over time between conditions on The Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy processes (CompACT)	baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention follow-up	The CompACT is a self-report measure of psychological flexibility. Total scores on the measure range from 0-138 with higher scores indicative of greater psychological flexibility.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Differences in change over time between conditions on the Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being 14-item Personal Growth Scale	baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention follow-up	Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being 14-item Personal Growth Scale is a self-report measure. Total scores range from 14-84, with higher scores indicative of greater personal growth.
Differences in change over time between conditions on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System's (PROMIS) 8-item Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities scale	baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention follow-up	The PROMIS 8-item Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities scale is a self-report measure. Total scores on the measure are converted to T scores.
Differences in change over time between conditions on the Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being 14-item Purpose in Life Scale	baseline, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month post-intervention follow-up	Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being 14-item Purpose in Life Scale is a self-report measure. Total scores range from 14-84, with higher scores indicative of greater purpose in life.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Iowa; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States