THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT BASED ON ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY AND SELF EFFICACY OF DIVORCED WOMEN

Divorce can have a bad effect on a person's psychological flexibility and self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of treatment based on acceptance and commitment on psychological flexibility and self-efficacy of divorced women.

The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test design and follow-up with a control group. The research population included all the divorced women of Hamedan city, Iran who went to the family court of Hamedan city between 2017–2021 and got divorced. From which, 2 groups of 20 people were randomly selected to the experimental control groups. Then the number diminished to 17 people. They responded to the psychological flexibility questionnaire (acceptance and action) and the general self-efficacy questionnaire of Sherer et al. The subjects of the experimental group were trained in acceptance and commitment therapy in a group manner (in the form of training and skills), 1 session of 90 minutes per week. During this period, the control group had not take any training. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS software and using the analysis of variance test with repeated measurements and a significant level of p < 0.05.

The analysis of the results showed that treatment based on acceptance and action leads to an increase in psychological flexibility and self-efficacy in divorced women. In the follow-up stage, the changes remained (P=0.010).

The therapy based on forgiveness and commitment can be used to increase the psychological flexibility and self-efficacy of divorced women.