Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on feelings of loneliness, shame, and guilt in female applicants for divorce

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the feelings of loneliness, shame, and guilt in female applicants for divorce.

The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, three-month follow up and control group. The statistical population consisted of 3823 divorce cases form which 983 cases were referred to Kerman Welfare Counseling and Psychological Services Center for divorce counseling by Kerman Family Court in 2018- 2019. Instrument were Russell, Peplau and Cutrona (1980) Loneliness scale and Orth, Robins and Soto (2006) self-conscious emotions questionnaire. Using convenience sampling, among 98 female respondents, 30 respondents who scored above 60 on the loneliness scale and 12 on the shame and guilt scale were selected and randomly assigned into two groups of 15 experimental and control. Therapy Bach & Moran (2008) Acceptance and Commitment was conducted in the experimental group in 11 sessions of 90- minute once a week and data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures.

The results showed that acceptance and commitment therapy reduced feelings of loneliness (F = 52.5, P = 0.0001), shame (F = 297.81, P = 0.0001) and guilt (F = 4.187, P = 0.0001) in female divorce applicants and this effect remained stable after the follow-up stage.

Since acceptance and commitment therapy is using metaphors and emphasizing on values, it leads to reduction of feelings of loneliness, shame and guilt in women seeking divorce; so, it can be used to lessen the loss caused by divorce.