Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Psychological Hardiness, Caring Behavior and Coping Strategies in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Increasing the prevalence of diabetes requires a change in concepts related to diabetes management and treatment programs. This change must be switch from the physical variables to psychosocial factors. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on psychological hardiness, caring behavior and coping styles of patients with type 2 diabetes.

The present study was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test intervention with a control group. The population consisted of diabetic patients who were referred to Besat Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2020. Patients were randomly assigned into three groups of 20 people. One group trained by using the ACT approach in eight 2-hour sessions. Other groups trained by the CBT approach in eight 1-hour sessions training. The control group didnchr('39')t receive any training. The data collection tools consisted of the Kobasa psychological hardiness questionnaire (1976), the Endler & Parker coping styles (1990), and the Tobert & Glasgow self-care questionnaire (2000).

The CBT and ACT interventions are effective in increasing the psychological hardiness and self-care behavior and improving coping styles in the experimental groups (P<0.05). Also, the CBT intervention had a greater effect than ACT on the variables of psychological hardiness and self-care behavior in the experimental group. In the variable of coping styles, the ACT intervention had a greater effect on the avoidance and excitement components than the CBT intervention.

In conclusion, it can be said that the CBT and ACT interventions can effectively increase the mental health of patients with type 2 diabetes and help them control their symptoms. It is recommended using these interventions to improve the psychological status of patients with diabetes.