Comparison of the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavior therapy on resilience, and assertiveness of women victims of domestic violence

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on the resilience and assertiveness of women victims of domestic violence. The study applied a quasi-experimental design, utilizing a pre-test and post-test model with multiple groups. The statistical population included women victims of domestic violence during autumn 2020 and spring 2021 in Sari. The sample was selected through purposive sampling, where 45 participants were selected. The population was then matched through a lottery technique and assigned to two experimental and one control group comprising 15 women. The first experimental group received seven ACT 90-minute sessions; the second received 12 DBT 90-minute sessions. The control group was placed on a waiting list for training. Data were collected using the standard resilience and assertiveness questionnaire and analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) test in SPSS 22 software. All three groups were required to complete the same questionnaires at the end of the study. The results indicated that both interventions increased resilience and assertiveness scores for the experimental groups. Moreover, there was a meaningful difference between the two interventions regarding their effectiveness on the variables above, where ACT's effectiveness on resilience and assertiveness was higher. Based on the findings, psychological interventions for domestic violence-exposed women can effectively prevent and reduce such incidents.