The effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on Mental Health and Safety of Homeless Women

Women as half of human resources in societies are an effective factor in advancing the goals of society and the family. Studies show that women are more vulnerable to poverty and discrimination than men. Now, homeless women are exposed to all kinds of harm due to excessive responsibility, lack of familiarity with some social skills, lack of access to resources and consequently low quality of life, as well as loss of network of relationships and responsibility of dependents. The present study was conducted to identify the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment (ACT) treatment on women's mental health, happiness and mental security.

The research design was quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population of women is covered by the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Sanandaj in 1400. From this population, 30 people were selected by available sampling and studied. So that 30 women were randomly divided into 2 groups: experimental (15 people) and control (15 people). The data were collected using the Maslow (1992) Psychosocial Security Questionnaire, Arhil & Lou (1990) Happiness and Goldberg (2008) Mental Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance.

The results showed that; Acceptance and commitment therapy has an effect on women's psychosocial security, happiness and mental health and increases psychosocial security and happiness and decreases mental health in homeless women (lower score indicates higher mental health).